There is a great need for an instrument that can accurately identify children with language problems early, regardless of the language(s) they speak. Certain tasks have been identified as potential markers of language impairment, including sentence repetition and digit repetition (Ziethe, Eysholdt and Doellinger 2013: 1). The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of these two potential markers in order to compile an accurate measuring instrument for language impairment in Afrikaans and South African English (SAE). The participants were 20 typically developing (TD) Afrikaans- and 20 TD SAE-speaking 5-year-olds, as well as five Afrikaans- and five SAE-speaking 5-year-olds with language impairment (LI). Sentence and digit repetition tasks were devised, recorded on CD, and performed by each participant individually. Both groups with LI performed poorly, and significantly more poorly than their corresponding TD group, on both repetition tasks. For both languages, (i) sentence repetition distinguished best between the participants with and without LI, and (ii) some items proved to be more sensitive than others for the difference between the performance of the TD and the LI groups. These items may be appropriate for inclusion in a screening tool for LI in 5-year-olds. The availability of language screening tools in several of South Africa's languages can be of value to child language researchers and speech-language therapists. This study demonstrated that devising such tools could be a feasible endeavour. In contrast to diagnostic language assessment instruments, screening tools that employ repetition tasks can be devised relatively quickly and economically, and can contribute to the early identification of children with language problems in the interim, while diagnostic instruments are developed.


We have greatly increased the dynamic range of a synchronous multi-channel OTDR system for the mode coupling measurement of a multi-core fiber (MCF) by more than 20 dB by introducing an optical amplifier and an optical masking apparatus. We used the OTDR system to measure the mode coupling along 10 km-long MCFs with low crosstalks of less than -50 dB. Thus, we successfully measured the fiber structural irregularity dependence of mode coupling along the MCF.


The rainfall by rainfall erosivity is the natural element that participates more actively in soil erosion because the rain is the main factor that causes the landscape modeling and must be studied to obtain information about the intensification of the process erosion. In general, if all other factors are held constant the only variable in time and space scales are the rains making the loss of soil proportional to rainfall erosivity. Before it was necessary to evaluate the potential of rainfall erosivity in the Taperoa River basin (SBHRT), describing the spatial and temporal, which is the main objective of this work. 22 posts rainfall data were used, obtained from the DCA / UFCG site, and from them we determined the erosivity factor. Through geoprocessing tools have been created maps that showed the spatial and temporal variability of rainfall and its erosivity. All analyzes were worked through Qgis 2.14 software, and through interpolation techniques were generated maps that show the erosive potential of the basin. The results show that the SBHRT an irregular seasonal distribution of rainfall erosivity with a peak in March and April; generally the sub-basin has a high and medium erosive potential and consequently high potential for soil loss by erosion, especially in the western sector where the erosive potential is considered very high and high.


ABSTRACT: Purpose: To help investigators decide if new therapies for glioma warrant definitive evaluation in randomized studies we have been developing a method for assessing the degree to which patient selection may have enhanced the results of uncontrolled treatment trials. In this study, we analyzed the impact of case selection on the survival of patients with malignant glioma receiving adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery, a promising therapy reserved for those with small tumors and good performance status. Methods: Following published eligibility criteria we simulated the patient selection process for stereotactic radiosurgery given as a boost at the conclusion of conventional radiotherapy. Eligible patients were culled from a pre-existing clinical/imaging database of 101 consecutive conventionally-treated patients with biopsy-proven malignant glioma and known survival times. Median durations of survival and 2- and 3-year survival rates were determined for those judged eligible or ineligible for stereotactic radiosurgery. Results: Twenty-seven percent of patients were deemed eligible for stereotactic radiosurgery, eligible patients had more favorable prognostic factors and significantly longer median survival than ineligible patients (23.4 vs. 8.6 months; 2-year rate, 48% vs. 15%; 3-year rate, 30% vs. 7%); eligible patients also had a longer median survival than the entire group of unselected patients (23.4 vs. 11.4 months). Radiosurgery-eligible, conventionally-treated patients with glioblastoma multiforme and a group of radiosurgery-treated patients at a special referral center had similar median survival times (16.4 vs. 19.7 months). Conclusion: We provide additional evidence for selection bias in uncontrolled trials of stereotactic radiosurgery and by simulating the selection process accurately have detected a larger bias effect than noted previously. Judging from experience with interstitial radiation and intraarterial chemotherapy where substantial selection bias also occurred and randomized controlled trials proved disappointing, we conclude that a phase III study of stereotactic radiosurgery for malignant glioma is unlikely to yield a positive result and may not be necessary.


Soil transformations in catchment of disappearing Sumówko Lake (Brodnickie Lake District, Poland) Lake disappearing is a natural process which contemporarily escalates in consequence of human activity. It is estimated that within the area of Northern Poland from the last glaciation period (ca. 17 000 years ago) a half of lakes totally have disappeared. Areas exposed after water basins desiccation have become native rocks for new soils. Reduced water level results in changes of morphology and properties of the soils situated in direct vicinity of former water basins. The aim of this study was to estimate impact of the catchment groundwater level fall on morphology and properties of direct lake catchment soils, exemplified by the lake Sumowko (Northern Poland) as well as description of new soils formed of lake sediments. The analysis covered 11 soil profiles emerging within former lake basin (newly formed soils) and soils from direct vicinity of former lake (modified through ground water level fall). Obtained results prove that newly formed soils (Limnic Histosol Drainic and Haplic Gleysol) in majority are utilized as grasslands. Soils of the former lake surroundings prove relic features of gleying while they are also subject to mucking process because of dehydration.


A positive coupling has been observed between magnetic films separated by a thin metallic layer. Five methods which have been developed for measuring this coupling and the variation of the coupling with evaporation temperature, measuring temperature, and thickness of the intermediate layer are described. Three mechanisms are proposed for the observed coupling : bulk diffusion of ferromagnetic atoms into the intermediate layer, diffusion of magnetic atoms along grain boundaries, and polarization of conduction electrons. The effect of this coupling on slow switching, pulse switching, and creep is discussed.


ABSTRACT A popular strategy for resolving Kim's exclusion problem is to suggest that mental and physical property tropes are identical despite the non-identity of the mental and physical properties themselves. I argue that mental and physical tropes can be identified without losing the dispositional character of mentality only if a dual-character hypothesis regarding the intrinsic characters of tropes is endorsed. But even with this assumption, the causal efficacy of the wrong dispositions is secured.


• Twenty-five children with chronic constipation underwent serial monitoring of serum β-carotene, retinol (vitamin A 1 ), and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) levels during mineral oil therapy. Mineral oil was administered between meals. Patients were monitored for up to four months of therapy. Mean serum β-carotene levels fell from 1.0±0.5 μmol/L (55.7±26.0 μg/dL) to 0.7±0.4 μmol/L (35.9±22.1 μg/dL) after the first month of mineral oil therapy and remained depressed throughout the remainder of the study. Serum α-tocopherol levels remained unchanged throughout the observation period. There was a modest increase in serum retinol levels during the study, especially after three months (from 1.48±0.84 μmol/L [42.3±24.1 μg/dL] to 2.22±0.77 μmol/L [63.5±22.1 μg/dL]). We conclude that while a short course of mineral oil can induce a reduction in the serum level of β-carotene, the treatment has no adverse effect on serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol. ( AJDC 1987;141:1210-1212)


"Protect My Moment": A Call for Awareness of and Advocacy for the Wounded Child Magne Torbjornsen Doctor of Ministry School of Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary 2015 The purpose of this project is to increase awareness of and advocacy for children of domestic violence in two Lutheran congregations in the Diocese of Borg, Norway, through education and mentoring. The project is a contribution to the development of a practical theology of advocacy and care for the wounded child. This study asserts that an increased awareness of and advocacy for suffering children is a central part of Christian discipleship. This project calls for an advocacy by the Church, speaking for children who are not able to speak for themselves and empowering children's voices. According to this, two strategies have been developed and implemented. The strategies focus on strengthening the practice of infant baptism and Christian education as practices of advocacy and care. The first strategy focuses on the churches' ministries with children, particularly in Christian education. A course with two parts was developed and tested. A preliminary analysis indicates that the course created an increased awareness of children of domestic violence and a new sensitivity of the role of the leader in children's ministry. Participants in the second part of the course reported that they need more tools to be able to advocate and care for children of domestic violence. The second strategy focuses on the priests of the two participating congregations, and mentoring them as they talk with parents about the care and protection of their children. Preliminary feedback has been gathered in the form of verbal responses from the priests and questionnaires completed by parents who were visited by the priests. The results are promising. The pilot project and practice also evoked questions about the role of the priest, as well as limiting the conversation and goals for the conversation. These questions demonstrate the need for further studies. Content Reader: Kara Powell, PhD Word Count: 269 To my wife Astrid and our three boys—thank you for who you are


The paper reassesses the old but still controversial problem of the transverse force on a vortex and the vortex mass. The transverse force from free bulk quasiparticles on the vortex, both in the Bose and the Fermi liquid, originates from the Aharonov--Bohm effect. However, in the Fermi liquid one should take into account peculiarities of the Aharonov--Bohm effect for BCS quasiparticles described by two-component spinor wave functions. There is no connection between the transverse force (either from free bulk quasiparticles or from vortex-core bound quasiparticles) and the spectral flow in the vortex core in superfluid Fermi liquid, in contrast to widely known claims. In fact, there is no steady spectral flow in the core of the moving vortex, and the analogy with the Andreev bound states in the SNS junction, where the spectral flow is really possible, is not valid in this respect.
The role of the backflow on the vortex mass is clarified. The backflow is an inevitable consequence of a mismatch between the currents inside and outside the vortex core and restores the conservation of the particle number (charge) violated by this mismatch. In the Fermi liquid the backflow compensates the current through the core bound states, which is a source of the vortex mass (the Kopnin mass). This results in renormalization of the Kopnin vortex mass by a numerical factor.


Abstract : Not too many years ago, the burden of Soviet defense seemed a secondary issue. The conventional estimates of the size of the burden were low and the Soviet economy was growing rapidly. Now, the era of rapid growth seems to have come to an end and the Western estimates of the burden are much higher. The conjunction generates intense interest in the relation between the two developments. Especially important is the role of the defense burden in shaping future growth prospects. How serious a drag on the economy does the Soviet military budget represent? Is cutting defense spending the solution to current Soviet economic problems? Will the military budget nevertheless continue to grow? These questions are the focus of the present paper. The first section considers the various estimates of the size of the Soviet defense burden. It is followed by a discussion of the connections between defense burden and resource allocation choices. A final section speculates on the implications for future defense spending.


The role of physiological elevations of plasma epinephrine concentration on muscle glycogenolysis during prolonged exercise was investigated. Eight healthy volunteers cycled for 90 min at 65%. VO2max on two occasions; one with an infusion of epinephrine (EPI) and once without (control). Biopsy samples were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle both prior to and following exercise for the analysis of muscle glycogen. EPI infusion significantly elevated venous plasma EPI approximately 2.5-fold over control values throughout exercise (90 min: 5.78 +/- 0.95 vs. 2.35 +/- 0.49 nM). EPI infusion did not significantly alter net glycogenolysis as compared to control (310.0 +/- 30.8 vs. 229.5 +/- 41.1 mmol glucosyl units/kg dry mass). Venous concentrations of plasma FFA and whole blood glycerol were unaffected by EPI infusion. Whole blood glucose was significantly elevated during EPI infusion at 10, 30, 60 and 90 min of exercise compared to control values. Whole blood lactate was elevated to a greater extent during EPI infusion as compared to control at 10, 30, and 60 min of exercise. In conclusion, EPI infusion had no effect on muscle glycogenolysis and appeared to have little effect on adipose tissue lipolysis. The explanation for the elevation of blood lactate is unknown while the elevation in blood glucose suggests that EPI infusion potentiated liver glycogenolysis.


The breast carcinoma microenvironment strikingly influences cancer progression and response to therapy. Various cell types in the carcinoma microenvironment show significant activity of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), although the role of p38MAPK in breast cancer progression is still poorly understood. The present study examined the contribution of tumor p38MAPK to breast carcinoma microenvironment and metastatic capacity. Inactivation of p38MAPK signaling in metastatic breast carcinoma cells was achieved by forced expression of the kinase-inactive mutant of p38/MAPK14 (a dominant-negative p38, dn-p38). Disruption of tumor p38MAPK signaling reduced growth and metastases of breast carcinoma xenografts. Importantly, dn-p38 markedly decreased tumor blood-vessel density and lumen sizes. Mechanistic studies revealed that p38 controls expression of pro-angiogenic extracellular factors such as matrix protein Fibronectin and cytokines VEGFA, IL8, and HBEGF. Tumor-associated fibroblasts enhanced tumor growth and vasculature as well as increased expression of the pro-angiogenic factors. These effects were blunted by dn-p38. Metadata analysis showed elevated expression of p38 target genes in breast cancers and this was an unfavorable marker of disease recurrence and poor-outcome. Thus, our study demonstrates that tumor p38MAPK signaling promotes breast carcinoma growth, invasive and metastatic capacities. Importantly, p38 enhances carcinoma vascularization by facilitating expression and deposition of pro-angiogenic factors. These results argue that p38MAPK is a valuable target for anticancer therapy affecting tumor vasculature. Anti-p38 drugs may provide new therapeutic strategies against breast cancer, including metastatic disease.


The exceeding concrete and washing equipment water are a matter to solve in concrete production. This paper explains several possibilities for recycling and analyses the products obtained with one recycling equipment. The objective of this work is to study the possibility to increase the percentage of recycling in new mixes. The developed study relates wash water density and fine particles content. Besides, mortar and concrete samples were tested introducing different quantities of these fine particles, substituting cement, sand or only as an addition. Consistency, compressive strength, setting time, absorption, and capillarity were tested. The results indicated an improvement of the studied properties in some percentages when substituting sand. It confirms the possibility to introduce larger quantities of wash water in new concrete mixes, with corrections in sand quantity depending on water density.


Dukuhwaluh village located in the district of Banyumas twins has a strategic location because it is close to educational facilities such as Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto, and educational institutions at the high school, junior high, elementary and early childhood education. The number of educational facilities should be able to encourage the distribution of better science, so that science is not only channeled directly to the educational actors alone, but able to give a positive impact to the surrounding community. But in fact the people in the village Dukuhwaluh still less awareness about education. Number of children who drop out of school so that trigger high unemployment, crime often triggers. Therefore, we moved to this situation to give an effort to improve the moral crisis through the program "Dusun Education", so that people have the knowledge to create awareness behave and act according to the rules and norms prevailing in the community, through a simple but effective learning in educating citizens. Methods of implementation of the "Dusun Education" is to provide socialization, education about crime, the study of spirituality, entrepreneurship training, motivational training, and installation-signpost signpost motivation as moral guidelines. With the implementation of all activities "Hamlet Education" will benefit the community, which is increasing the quality of education, hygiene, and safety in the village Dukuhwaluh, increasing citizens' awareness of the importance of pressing crime, declining crime occurred, as well as the activities of the youth who had started the vacuum again.


Research indicates that monotonous automated driving increases the incidence of fatigued driving. Although many prediction models based on advanced machine learning techniques were proposed to monitor driver fatigue, especially in manual driving, little is known about how these black-box machine learning models work. In this paper, we proposed a combination of eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) to predict driver fatigue with explanations due to their efficiency and accuracy. First, in order to obtain the ground truth of driver fatigue, PERCLOS (percentage of eyelid closure over the pupil over time) between 0 and 100 was used as the response variable. Second, we built a driver fatigue regression model using both physiological and behavioral measures with XGBoost and it outperformed other selected machine learning models with 3.847 root-mean-squared error (RMSE), 1.768 mean absolute error (MAE) and 0.996 adjusted $R^2$. Third, we employed SHAP to identify the most important predictor variables and uncovered the black-box XGBoost model by showing the main effects of most important predictor variables globally and explaining individual predictions locally. Such an explainable driver fatigue prediction model offered insights into how to intervene in automated driving when necessary, such as during the takeover transition period from automated driving to manual driving.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate prognostic factors in the course of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) from baseline to post-treatment.

METHODS
Fifty-seven patients with FM were examined in a randomized intervention study. Pre-treatment variables were entered into linear regression analyses: gender, age, duration of disease, allocation to treatment, pain distribution (based on a patient-made drawing), fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressed mood (based on visual analog scores), with pain distribution at treatment completion as the dependent variable.

RESULTS
Depressed mood at baseline was a significant predictor of sustained widespread pain at treatment completion.

CONCLUSION
The findings indicate a role for depressed mood as a predictive factor for treatment response.


The objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive performance of ewes submitted to different feeding management before and during the breeding period. A total of 112 ewes, 63 in year one and 49 in year two of the study, from the genetic groups Hampshire Down, Ile de France, Suffolk and Corriedale, were used. The ewes were separated in three groups: T1 (without supplementation), T2 (supplemented with 600 g/day of ground corn) and T3 (supplemented with 600 g/day of a concentrate containing 75% of ground corn and 25% of soybean meal). Supplemented ewes (T2 and T3) had higher body weight and more weight gain until the end of the breeding period than those not supplemented. Body condition scores were also greater at the end of the breeding period for supplemented ewes, indicating a greater fat and muscle deposition. Supplementation did not improve fertility rate and twins birth rate, but increased birth rate in ewes supplemented with corn. Age and genetic group both affected birth rate. It was concluded that feeding corn to ewes improved the number of lambs per ewe.


Developments over the last twenty years have shown that, contrary to previous opinion, people with learning disabilities can benefit from psychotherapy (Sinason 1992; Kroese, Dagnan & Loumidia, 1997). Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) has been adapted for use with a learning disability population (Ryle 2002). CAT collaboratively examines the Reciprocal Roles (RRs) a client plays in relationships. These are impacted by clients' experiences of the world. The aim of this research is to identify which RRs may become apparent in working with people with learning disabilities. The therapy notes of participants (n=16) who had undergone CAT were examined and analysed using content analysis. Twenty-two different RRs were found. Four common Reciprocal Roles and two common idealised Reciprocal Roles were identified. Other observations about the data are presented. The limitations and clinical implications of the study are discussed.


The Malawi Government has made various attempts to raise the productivity of the agricultural systems in the country. However, the impact of this effort within the context of HIV/AIDS epidemic has not been investigated. This paper examines the levels of efficiency for affected and non-affected small-scale farm households in Malawi. Time-variant and invariant inefficiency models of production were used. Results show that the technical efficiency levels for non-affected households were higher than those of the affected households. In general, Malawian farmers are technically efficient, implying that government policy of subsidising hybrid maize seeds and fertilisers since the 2006/06 agricultural season enhanced technical efficiency of small-scale farmers. Nevertheless, there was more scope for improvement of the productivity as some farm households, particularly affected female headed households that had cases of mortality of a prime adult member, were still operating at low levels of efficiency. Two main policy issues emerge from this study. First, all types of obstacles that could limit the use of farm inputs should be removed. This should include complete liberalisation of purchase and distribution of such inputs and the development of some low-cost technology to reduce labour constraints on the farm. Second, there is need to develop social capital in smallholder farming through the recommencement of farmers' clubs, or by setting up agricultural cooperatives.


This paper aimed to determine the structural behavior of steel bearing systems by creating similarity conditions with field equations. Scaling plays a crucial role in designing experiments aimed at understanding the structural behavior of systems where experimental studies are difficult to perform due to huge structures in the profession of engineering field. Scaling can be performed by using dimensional analysis or by normalizing differential equations that describe the dynamics of the system. If a model and prototype are dimensionally similar, it is possible to estimate experimental results from model to prototype.

 The use of scaled models is common on engineering applications because these models allow conducting experimental tests without the need of a physical system (i.e. prototype) to be constructed. Considering these advantages mentioned in this study, it is formed a similarity relation between prototype and scaled models of different steel bearing systems is established. Similarity relationships between systems are created by field equations. As an example, column and cantilever beams were selected and 1/2 and 1/4 scale procedure was applied.

 The results obtained by finite element models in SAP2000 program for each system were compared with analytical results. The analysis results were examined and it was determined that scale factors are constant depending on scale types for different bearing systems. In addition, the influence diagrams of the systems were also examined and it was observed that the scale factor was fixed.


Interface delamination is the major failure mode of diamond-coated carbide tools in machining. On the other hand, coating cracking is possibly accompanied during a tribological process that induces the delamination phenomenon. However, such an influence between the two failure behaviors has not been investigated in a quantitative way to better understand and design diamond coating tools.In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) indentation model combining cohesive interactions and extended finite element method (XFEM) was developed to investigate the diamond-coating, carbide-substrate interface behavior with the incorporation of coating cracking. The interface interaction was based on a cohesive zone model (CZM) with a bilinear traction-separation law. XFEM was applied to the coating domain to model cracking in the diamond coating with a damage criterion of the maximum principal stress. Deposition stresses were also included to investigate their effect on the coating delamination and fractures. The model was implemented in finite element (FE) codes to analyze the cone crack in brittle coatings, as well as the interface delamination of diamond coated carbide tools. The XFEM model was validated by the indentation testing data from literature in crack initiations and propagations in brittle materials. FE results from the indentation on diamond-coated tools show that the interface delamination size and the loading force become smaller when coating fractures are incorporated in the model, and the deposition stresses will increase the initial crack radius as well as the critical load for delamination in diamond coatings.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


PURPOSE
The purpose of this paper was to discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender-targeted hate crimes and their mental health consequences for the victim and community.

CONCLUSIONS
Hate crimes are typically more violent than nonhate-motivated crimes and have more deleterious mental health consequences.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
Thorough assessment coupled with an understanding of the social milieu and the meaning of the experience to the survivor can help the psychiatric nurse partner with the client to select the most appropriate treatment.


In this study, we propose a microfluidic device with a diffuser type chamber to differentiate the sperm velocity by gradually lowering down the flow speed in diffuser by gradually increasing the width of the channel. When the sperms' moving speed match the flow speed, the sperms tend to have the ability to flow against the stream, thus separating the sperms at different specific positions along the diffuser according to their motility becomes gentle and fast. Most of the motile sperm will stay in the expanding area and the non-motile sperms will drift to outlet.


In this communication, a full wave moment method solution for a probe-fed circular microstrip patch antenna, backed by a circular cavity both in single and in stacked configurations, is used to analyze the effect of a parasitic patch on antenna bandwidth. In addition, the effect of recessing a single patch into the antenna cavity is studied. In both cases, theoretical results for the scattering and radiation characteristics of the antenna are presented. >


Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) allelopathy has potential for the management of weeds, pests and diseases. Both wheat residue allelopathy and wheat seedling allelopathy can be exploited for managing weeds, including resistant biotypes. Wheat varieties differ in allelopathic potential against weeds, indicating that selection of allelopathic varieties might be a useful strategy in integrated weed management. Several categories of allelochemicals for wheat allelopathy have been identified, namely, phenolic acids, hydroxamic acids and short-chain fatty acids. Wheat allelopathic activity is genetically controlled and a multigenic model has been proposed. Research is underway to identify genetic markers associated with wheat allelopathy. Once allelopathic genes have been located, a breeding programme could be initiated to transfer the genes into modern varieties for weed suppression. The negative impacts of wheat autotoxicity on agricultural production systems have also been identified when wheat straws are retained on the soil surface for conservation farming purposes. A management package to avoid such deleterious effects is discussed. Wheat allelopathy requires further study in order to maximise its allelopathic potential for the control of weeds, pests and diseases, and to minimise its detrimental effects on the growth of wheat and other crops.


This research is part of the exploration of the Asset Management Advisory Group of Arcadis towards the added value of Big Data for Asset Management. The objective of this research is to determine to which extent smartphones are able to measure the road roughness and whether they are able to replace existing road roughness measuring methods, considering the requirements of Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), or can be of other added value for the Asset Management process.
The usage of RWS of the road roughness data is mapped by conducting expert interviews. It emerged that RWS uses road roughness data in the form of the Half-Car Roughness Index (HRI), along with four other parameters to prepare their Multiple Year Plan for Pavement Maintenance (MJPV). The HRI is measured with the Automatic Road Analyzer (ARAN). Based on the information needs of RWS that were indicated by the experts different criteria are formulated.
During a test drive smartphone data is collected, which is processed using RoADS and then is assessed based on the criteria. As a reference framework for this analysis ARAN-data of RWS has been used. The findings of the analysis are listed below per criterion.
1. The location in the width of the road should be determined with an accuracy of which it is possible to determine with 95% certainty on which lane of the road the data has been collected.
The distributions of the locating accuracy of the smartphones have been determined by comparing the coordinates of the smartphones with those of the ARAN. The highest certainty with which the collected smartphone data could be assigned to a lane is 83,33% for the OnePlus One and 91,01% for the S4 Mini. Therefore the smartphones do not meet the first criterion.
2. The location in the length of the road should be determined with a maximum standard deviation of 5 meters and must be determined within every 100 meters.
The same distributions that were determined for the first criterion have been used here. The OnePlus One has a standard deviation of 2,33m and the S4 Mini 1,62m. The GPS signal of the smartphones have a frequency of 1 Hz, which means that a speed of over 360 km/h should be reached to have a measurement gap of over 100m between two points. Since this is not a realistic speed to be reached on the national RoADS, it is concluded that the second criterion is met.
3. The average HRI should be delivered in 100 meters segments with a maximum standard deviation of 0,1m/km.
Prediction functions have been determined that use the classes that RoADS assigns to the collected smartphone data. The predictions based on class 1 have a standard deviation of 0,2362m/km and those based on class 3 of 0,2638m/km. In both cases the criteria is not met.
Based on the results it is concluded that smartphones currently do not comply with the use of RWS to measure the road roughness and, therefore, are not able to replace the ARAN. By conducting a brainstorm session with Asset Management experts of Arcadis other possible areas of application were identified. These include the monitoring of road roughness in new construction projects, monitoring of road networks in developing countries, the use of RoADS for day-to-day pavement management, and better analysing the degradation process of road roughness by collecting more data.


There have been continuous efforts and progress regarding the research and development of future network technologies in recent years, such as network virtualization and software defined networking, information centric networking (ICN), cloud networking, autonomic management, and open connectivity. ITU-T started working on the standardization of FNs in late 2009, and it has developed some initial Recommendations that lay out the essential directions for subsequent detailed work. This article presents the background and the context of FNs' standardization, and the deliverables and future plans originated from the initial standardization work performed by ITU-T.


In the western Baltic Sea (WBS), whiting Merlangius merlangus is the main piscivorous fish together with cod Gadus morhua. In the present study, we investigate the growth and food consumption rates of WBS M. merlangus and compare the growth rates of males and females with those of M. merlangus in the North Sea (NS). Food consumption rates are estimated directly from sampled stomach contents in the WBS using a gastric evacuation rate model and indirectly by using a static energy-budget model together with the growth rates. The results indicate that male and female M. merlangus in the WBS have similar feeding and growth strategies, while in the NS M. merlangus show more pronounced differences in food consumption and growth dynamics between the sexes. Female WBS M. merlangus grow significantly slower than their conspecifics in the NS, but there is no significant difference for males. Sexual size dimorphism is seen in both areas, but for M. merlangus in the WBS the difference is less pronounced. Food consumption rates in the WBS differ between seasons, with the lowest food intake in the first 2 quarters of the year and the highest in the 3rd quarter. No differences in consumption rates were seen between males and females, which could be related to the more similar growth pattern seen for M. merlangus in the WBS.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the interdisciplinary debate promoted by service research community by establishing the conceptual frame within which different perspectives addressing systemic and multifaceted approaches to innovation are framed. Growing research interest in innovation has led to different definitions, which are referred to here as "innovation system(s)", "innovation network(s)" and "innovation ecosystem(s)". The paper examines the theoretical foundations, outcomes, and patterns of contributions to which each innovation perspectives is tied and proposed a subject and the framework allowing an exploration of an interdisciplinary dialogue between the different research positions.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted to discern differences in concepts and their meanings. An overview obtained using Web of Knowledge leads to a focus on studies, followed by a content analysis using NVivo, which enables identification of key concepts and their definitions. By highlighting relationships among terms, the paper establishes a framework of the ontological assumptions of different innovation discourses and explores their contribution to the interdisciplinary dialogue promoted by service research perspective on innovation.

Findings

A comparison among the three innovation perspectives leads us to focus on innovation itself, alongside context, actors, enablers, and governance, which are useful to mark the commonalities and differences among the three research approaches. The framework is helpful to break down the fragmented and sometimes overlapping points of view of innovation and provides a more integrative stance from which to address the emergence of the service ecosystems approach on innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation focuses on three innovation perspectives and on top-cited articles alone; hence, it can be complemented with a full analysis through a bibliometric approach to test whether the features highlighted are linked to other elements. Moreover, the different approaches grouped on "innovation ecosystems" perspective suggest the possibility to enhance service ecosystems discourse on innovation by looking at different knowledge and contributions that are rapidly growing in this area.

Social implications

The central idea this work puts forward is that after some decades of separation, there is a need to move towards an increasing convergence of economics, business and service based on the milestones of innovation systems, innovation networks, and innovation ecosystems thoughts.

Originality/value

This research sheds light on the different ways innovation, in multi-actor and the interconnected setting, is theoretically framed and described. By capturing established thinking in different innovation perspectives, the paper provides an integrated framework to making sense of the full picture of economies and societies seen as complex networks and systems of service systems.


Abstract The increase of chronic illness as a leading cause of death has given rise to self-care and expert patient initiatives. Caring for chronically ill people places a tremendous economic burden on the health care system, informal carers, the labour market and benefit system (Department of Health 2001, 2004, 2005). Thus, in many countries health policy encourages patients to become 'experts' in the self-management of their conditions in the belief that it will help save money and improve health and well-being (Wanless 2002). For example, the notion of 'expert patients' has emerged in UK policy and is pivotal to government plans to modernise the National Health Service (NHS) by linking patient expertise to ideas of empowerment, a better quality of life, self-esteem and a user-driven NHS (Department of Health 2001; Fox et al 2005). Self-management and expert patient initiatives aim to encourage chronically ill patients to become more actively involved in decisions concerning their care and well-being (Lorig and Holman 2003; Lorig et al 1985, 1999, 2001).


Gonadotropin receptors belong to the super family of G protein-coupled receptors and mediate the physiological effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone (LHR). Their central role in the control of reproductive function has made them the focus of intensive studies. Upon binding to their cognate hormone, they trigger complex signaling and trafficking mechanisms that are tightly regulated in concentration, time, and space. Classical cellular assays often fail to capture all these dynamics. Here, we describe the use of various bioluminescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (BRET and FRET) assays to investigate the activation and regulation of FSHR and LHR in real-time, in living cells (i.e., transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells). Indeed, the dynamics of hormone-mediated heterotrimeric G protein activation, cyclic adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) production, calcium release, β-arrestin 2 recruitment, and receptor internalization/recycling was assessed. Kinetics and dose–response analyses confirmed the expected pharmacological and signaling properties of hFSHR and hLHR but revealed interesting characteristics when considering the two major pathways (cAMP and β-arrestin 2) of the two receptors assessed by BRET. Indeed, the EC50 values were in picomolar range for cAMP production while nanomolar range was observed for β-arrestin 2 recruitment as well as receptor internalization. Interestingly, the predicted receptor occupancy indicates that the maximal G protein activation and cAMP response occur at <10% of receptor occupancy whereas >90% of activated receptors is required to achieve full β-arrestin 2 recruitment and subsequent receptor internalization. The rapid receptor internalization was also followed by a recycling phase. Collectively, our data reveal that β-arrestin-mediated desensitization, internalization, and the subsequent fast recycling of receptors at the plasma membrane may provide a mechanistic ground to the "spare receptor" paradigm. More generally, the novel tools described here will undoubtedly provide the scientific community investigating gonadotropin receptors with powerful means to decipher their pharmacology and signaling with the prospect of pathophysiological and drug discovery applications.


The critical current of a short YBa2Cu3O7 − δ (YBCO) coated conductor sample degrades in an unprotected quench performed in a nearly adiabatic environment at 30 K. The conductor has Cu stabilizers on both surfaces. The quench is initiated by a heater attached to the sample surface. The amplitude of the transport current is fixed as 91% of the sample's initial critical current. The duration of the current is increased to simulate an unprotected quench and to reach increasing and controlled voltage and temperature levels. A peak temperature of 490 ± 50 K and a heating rate of 1800 K s − 1 are measured when the critical current degrades by ∼ 5%. The applied thermal strain on the YBCO layer from 30 to 490 K is estimated to be 0.31% and is applied at a strain rate of ∼ 1% s − 1. The rate of temperature change and the time to reach a certain peak temperature, determined by the current density in the Cu stabilizer, are estimated assuming adiabatic conditions based on the short sample case. For a Cu stabilizer current density ranging from 1000 to 2000 A mm − 2, achieved in commercial conductors currently available, the quench detection and protection requires a response time < 200 ms to limit the peak temperature below 200 K. A Cu stabilizer current density higher than 3000 A mm − 2 may challenge the existing detection and protection techniques for the same 200 K limit. Integrating the substrate as part of the stabilizer may help reduce the stabilizer current density to gain more time for quench detection and protection while maintaining the engineering current density.


OBJECTIVE
To examine clinical and molecular changes after topical fluorouracil treatment of photodamaged human facial skin for actinic keratoses.

DESIGN
Nonrandomized, open-label 2-week treatment with fluorouracil cream, 5%, followed by clinical and molecular evaluation.

SETTING
Academic referral center.

PATIENTS
Twenty-one healthy volunteers, 56 to 85 years old, with actinic keratoses and photodamage. Interventions Twice-daily application of fluorouracil cream for 2 weeks and biopsies and clinical evaluation at baseline and periodically after treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Gene and protein expression of molecular effectors of epidermal injury, inflammation, and extracellular matrix remodeling 24 hours after fluorouracil treatment; clinical improvement measured by evaluators, photography, and patient questionnaires.

RESULTS
One day after the final fluorouracil treatment, gene expression of the effectors of epidermal injury (keratin 16), inflammation (interleukin 1beta), and extracellular matrix degradation (matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3) was significantly increased. Types I and III procollagen messenger RNA were induced at week 4 (7-fold and 3-fold, respectively). Type I procollagen protein levels were increased 2-fold at week 24. Actinic keratoses and photoaging were statistically significantly improved. Most patients rated photoaging as improved and were willing to undergo the therapy again.

CONCLUSIONS
Topical fluorouracil causes epidermal injury, which stimulates wound healing and dermal remodeling resulting in improved appearance. The mechanism of topical fluorouracil in photoaged skin follows a predictable wound healing pattern of events reminiscent of that seen with laser treatment of photoaging.


Objective
Primary health care providers are directly responsible for the care of people with epilepsy. However, their education about epilepsy might be inadequate or lacking. Our objective was to develop an evidence-based and consensus-driven educational curriculum for the management of epilepsy within the primary healthcare setting.

Methods
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Education Council commissioned a task force of international experts, who met virtually at monthly intervals in 2020/2021 to develop the curriculum. The task force adopted and added to five domains from the ILAE Epileptology Curriculum after discussions on context, structure and wording of associated competencies and learning objectives. The consensus-approved curriculum was disseminated to the ILAE leadership and constituency in six different languages. An online survey was used to collate structured feedback which further refined the curriculum.

Results
Feedback was obtained from 785 voluntary respondents who were inclusive of epilepsy specialists and primary healthcare providers. Nearly two thirds of the respondents approved the use of the curriculum to advance the competency of primary health care providers in epilepsy. The final educational curriculum comprised six domains, 26 competencies and 85 learning objectives. The six domains were: (1) ability to diagnose epilepsy and its broad subtypes; (2) ability to provide counselling to people with epilepsy over a range of issues; (3) ability to introduce treatment and follow-up to people with epilepsy; (4) competency to appropriately refer people to higher centres of care; (5) ability to manage epilepsy emergencies including status epilepticus; and (6) ability to recognize and provide basic care for psychiatric and somatic comorbidities.

Conclusions
The curriculum represents an advance in providing inclusive care for epilepsy within the primary health care setting and ideally should be used to facilitate future primary health care epilepsy education packages.


We performed a prospective, randomized study of various needle gauges and the effect on recirculation, venous pressure, and puncture site bleeding. All patients (n = 21) in our unit consented and participated. We studied 14, 15, 16, and 17 gauge needles, 2.5 cm in length with a backeye conformation. Each of the four needle gauges were studied twice in a randomized order. Needles were placed with the arterial needle pointed toward the arterial anastomosis and the venous needle pointed toward the venous anastomosis. The arterial and venous needles were placed at least 6 cm apart. Venous pressure and bleeding from puncture sites were recorded and analyzed in relation to needle gauge. Recirculation was calculated using the 3 needle technique. Blood pump flow rates (Q B s) of 200 and 500 cc/min were studied with each needle gauge during the first 0.5 hour of dialysis. Data were analyzed using MANOVA and chi square. Recirculation at a Q B of 200 cc/min was similar for all needle gauges (13-15%). At a Q B of 500 cc/min the recirculation was 19% for the 17 gauge needles and 27% for the 14 gauge needles (p <0.01). Venous pressure increased with decreasing needle size : 83 mmHg at Q B 200 cc/min for 14 gauge needles, 147 mmHg at Q B 200 cc/min for 17 gauge needles, and 204 mmHg and 382 mmHg respectively for Q B 500 cc/min with needle gauges of 14 and 17. Bleeding occurred with 15 gauge needles on two occasions and four times with 14 gauge needles. There were no bleeding episodes with 16 or 17 gauge needles (p <0.03). In conclusion, recirculation is greater with larger gauge needles at Q B 500 cc/min. Bleeding is related to larger gauge needles. Hence, smaller gauge needles (17 gauge) appear move advantageous than larger gauge needles.


The effect of anodic oxide films produced by β-glycerophosphate (β-GP) and calcium acetate (CA) anodizing on osteoblast-like cell attachment and spreading were evaluated in this study. Anodic oxide films were produced in different conditions: Group 1, 0.02 M β-GP and 0.2 M CA; Group 2, 0.03 M β-GP and 0.2 M CA; Group 3, 0.03 M β-GP and 0.2 M CA. Anodic oxide surface was significantly rougher in comparison to the control untreated titanium surfaces, and the surface roughness and composition of phosphate and oxide increased as the concentration of β-GP was increased. There was no significant difference in the cell viability when cells were cultured on the control or anodized surface using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Scanning electron micrographs revealed more spread cells on the anodized surface than on the smooth control surface. In conclusion, we suggested that the positive effects of anodized surfaces produced by β-GP and CA on spreading of osteoblast-like cells may be the result of the difference of surface roughness and amount of Ca and P in the oxide layer.


The effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on adenylate cyclase have been tested using renal tubular membranes and renal glomeruli isolated from rats. E. Coli LPS did not stimulate glomerular and tubular basal adenylate cyclase activity whereas it was an activator in the presence of fluoride. The effect of E. Coli LPS was immediate but was greater after 20 min preincubation. Maximum stimulation of both glomerular and tubular fluoride sensitive adenylate cyclase occurred at 125 microgram/ml of E. Coli LPS with an apparent Km (dose corresponding to 50% of maximum stimulation) of 30 microgram/ml. Above 125 microgram/ml there was a decrease in adenylate cyclase activity. E. Coli LPS produced an increase in the maximum velocity of both enzymes but did not affect their affinity for adenosine triphosphate. E. Coli LPS did not potentiate the effect of parathyroid hormone on glomerular and tubular adenylate cyclase. The lipid A moiety which is common to all LPS whatever the original strain gave results similar to those obtained with the entire LPS. This effect was specific and did not depend on the phospholipidic structure in general since no activation was obtained in the presence of phosphatidylserine.


In this paper, a detailed description of a proposed technique for power flow control in DC distribution systems has been presented. The DC system under study is assumed mainly dependent on renewable energy sources. The proposed topology utilizes a controlled series current compensator (CSCC) technique for connection and power flow control among buses. The proposed topology allows full power flow control among different DC buses while keeping the voltage level constant at all of them. Hence, loads connected to these buses will not be affected with the power flow process. Moreover, connection of buses at different voltage level and controlling the power flow can be easily achieved using this topology. The proposed topology reduces the complexity of applying protection schemes as it utilizes isolated DC-DC converter. Simulation results verified the applicability of the proposed topology. Moreover, a prototype system has been designed and built in hardware to examine the performance of the proposed system. The experimental results show the validity of the proposed system as a powerful technique to interconnect DC buses.


Malaysia is a small country but has big achievement in economic development to its credit. This year (August 2007) the country celebrates the completion of the first 50 years of its independence. It is in the fitness of things that this paper takes a look at its economic achievements over the past decades and the policies that shaped its success story in the matter. This is all the more apt as not a few regard Malaysia as a role model for the developing countries, especially the OIC members. The paper does not follow the historical sequence of events. That is available in numerous publications spread over time. It highlights the major achievements of the country and the policies that made them possible. Here it talks about the long-run vision of the social order the economic effort had to establish, the form and speed of transformation the policies ushered in, the model of growth it chose, the measures it took to enforce equity, the way it managed crises, and the Islamic elements that it was always seizes with to incorporate in its plans.


Serotonin (5-HT) at low concentrations induces an endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat jugular vein mediated via a 5-HT1-like receptor. The receptor mediating this relaxation was characterized in vitro using agonists and antagonists in segments precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha in the presence of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin. The following substances acted as agonists, with the order of potency: 5-HT > dl-alpha-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine = 5-carboxamidotryptamine > quipazine > 8-hydroxy-2-(dl-n-propylamino) tetralin. dl-Propranolol, mesulergine and mianserin acted as competitive, methysergide, 6-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-ergoline-8 beta-carboxylic acid 2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl ester and sumatriptan as non-competitive, and ritanserin acted as both a competitive and non-competitive antagonist of the 5-HT-induced relaxation. Neither the 5-HT2 antagonists ketanserin and spiperone nor the 5-HT3 antagonist 1 alpha-H,3 alpha,5 alpha-H-tropan-3-yl,3,5-dichlorbenzoate affected the 5-HT-induced relaxation. The pEC50 values of the agonists and the pA2 and pAh values of the antagonists correlated strongly with pKD values at the 5-HT1C binding site. These results are consistent with a peripheral vascular 5-HT1C receptor in the rat jugular vein.


Multi linguistic problems such as auto-categorization is not an easy task. It is possible to train different models for each language, another way to do auto-categorization is to build the model in one base language and use automatic translation from other languages to that base language. Different languages have a bias to a language specific grammar and syntax and will therefore pose problems to be expressed in other languages. Translating from one language into a non-verbal language could potentially have a positive impact of the categorization results. A non-verbal language could for example be pure information in form of a knowledge graph relation extraction from the text. In this article a comparison is conducted between Chinese and Swedish languages. Two categorization models are developed and validated on each dataset. The purpose is to make an auto-categorization model that works for n'importe quel langage. One model is built upon LSTM and optimized for Swedish and the other is an improved Bidirectional-LSTM Convolution model optimized for Chinese. The improved algorithm is trained on both languages and compared with the LSTM algorithm. The Bidirectional-LSTM algorithm performs approximately 20% units better than the LSTM algorithm, which is significant.


Nonlinear behaviour of a direct current (DC) driven semiconductor-gas discharge plasma is investigated experimentally. The setup consists of two planar electrodes separated by a gap of 1 mm. Plasma glow is generated between a semiconductor cathode and a transparent anode using nitrogen gas at partial atmospheric pressure. Nonlinear behavior of the discharge is investigated by varying the applied DC voltage while monitoring the plasma current (I), voltage (V), and the optical emission, (i.e., amplified voltage measurements obtained using a photodiode and an amplifier). The discharge behaves oscillatory in time. By increasing the applied voltage, the system evolves into higher frequency oscillations with sub-harmonics. In fact, period doublings are observed in these systems, as shown in earlier publications by our research group. In this study, we investigate the mode coupling nature of these oscillations using a Fourier transform based spectral analysis.


Abstract In 2012, the Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative for Neonatal Wards (Neo‐BFHI) began providing recommendations to improve breastfeeding support for preterm and ill infants. This cross‐sectional survey aimed to measure compliance on a global level with the Neo‐BFHI's expanded Ten Steps to successful breastfeeding and three Guiding Principles in neonatal wards. In 2017, the Neo‐BFHI Self‐Assessment questionnaire was used in 15 languages to collect data from neonatal wards of all levels of care. Answers were summarized into compliance scores ranging from 0 to 100 at the ward, country, and international levels. A total of 917 neonatal wards from 36 low‐, middle‐, and high‐income countries from all continents participated. The median international overall score was 77, and median country overall scores ranged from 52 to 91. Guiding Principle 1 (respect for mothers), Step 5 (breastfeeding initiation and support), and Step 6 (human milk use) had the highest scores, 100, 88, and 88, respectively. Step 3 (antenatal information) and Step 7 (rooming‐in) had the lowest scores, 63 and 67, respectively. High‐income countries had significantly higher scores for Guiding Principles 2 (family‐centered care), Step 4 (skin‐to‐skin contact), and Step 5. Neonatal wards in hospitals ever‐designated Baby‐friendly had significantly higher scores than those never designated. Sixty percent of managers stated they would like to obtain Neo‐BFHI designation. Currently, Neo‐BFHI recommendations are partly implemented in many countries. The high number of participating wards indicates international readiness to expand Baby‐friendly standards to neonatal settings. Hospitals and governments should increase their efforts to better support breastfeeding in neonatal wards.


We present numerical simulations of off-center collisions between galaxy clusters made using a new hydrodynamical code based on the piecewise-parabolic method (PPM) and an isolated multigrid potential solver. The current simulations follow only the intracluster gas. We have performed three high-resolution (256 × 1282) simulations of collisions between equal-mass clusters using a nonuniform grid with different values of the impact parameter (0, 5, and 10 times the cluster core radius). Using these simulations, we have studied the variation in equilibration time, luminosity enhancement during the collision, and structure of the merger remnant with varying impact parameter. We find that in off-center collisions the cluster cores (the inner regions where the pressure exceeds the ram pressure) behave quite differently from the clusters' outer regions. A strong, roughly ellipsoidal shock front, similar to that noted in previous simulations of head-on collisions, enables the cores to become bound to each other by dissipating their kinetic energy as heat in the surrounding gas. These cores survive well into the collision, dissipating their orbital angular momentum via spiral bow shocks. After the ellipsoidal shock has passed well outside the interaction region, the material left in its wake falls back onto the merger remnant formed through the inspiral of the cluster cores, creating a roughly spherical accretion shock. For less than one-half of a sound crossing time after the cores first interact, the total X-ray luminosity increases by a large factor; the magnitude of this increase depends sensitively on the size of the impact parameter. Observational evidence of the ongoing collision, in the form of bimodality and distortion in projected X-ray surface brightness and temperature maps, is present for one to two sound crossing times after the collision but only for special viewing angles. The remnant actually requires at least five crossing times to reach virial equilibrium. Since the sound crossing time can be as large as 1-2 Gyr, the equilibration time can thus be a substantial fraction of the age of the universe. The final merger remnant is very similar for impact parameters of 0 and 5 core radii. It possesses a roughly isothermal core with central density and temperature twice the initial values for the colliding clusters. Outside the core, the temperature drops as r-1, and the density roughly as r-3.8. The core radius shows a small increase due to shock heating during the merger. For an impact parameter of 10 core radii, the core of the remnant possesses a more flattened density profile with a steeper drop-off outside the core. In both off-center cases, the merger remnant rotates, but only for the 10 core-radius case does this appear to have an effect on the structure of the remnant.


Hierarchical one-dimensional CdS nanowires (NWs)/CdSe core–shell heterostructure have been synthesized through a simple wet chemical approach. The formation of CdS NWs/CdSe core–shell has been confirmed by structural, morphological and optical analysis. Fascinatingly, an optimum number of CdSe nanoparticles loaded over CdS NWs boosts the device efficiency five times than a bare CdS NW structure. The effect of increasing the CdSe SILAR cycles over CdS induces red shift in the absorption wavelength along with quenching, which leads to the negative shift of the conduction band, and hence, increases the electron lifetime, as analyzed by photoluminescence, external quantum efficiency and Mott–Schottky studies. Interestingly, a discrepancy has been found in the device performance with an increase in the SILAR cycles beyond the optimum condition. The reason behind this fact has been investigated through different comprehensive photoelectrochemical characterization and discussed herein.


Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a master regulatory transcription factor that plays an important role in the antioxidant response pathway against anticancer drug-induced cytotoxic effects. RRx-001 is a new anticancer agent that generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and leads to epigenetic alterations in cancer cells. Here we report the RRx-001 mediated nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the activation of expression of its downstream enzymes HO-1 and NQO1 in tumor cells. Inhibition of intrinsic Nrf2 expression by Nrf2-specific siRNA increased cell sensitivity to RRx-001. Molecular imaging of tumor cells co-expressing pARE-Firefly luciferase and pCMV-Renilla luciferase-mRFP in vitro and in vivo in mice revealed that RRx-001 significantly increased ARE-FLUC signal in cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, suggesting that RRx-001 is an effective activator of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway. The pre-treatment level of ARE-FLUC signal in cells, reflecting basal activity of Nrf2, negatively correlated with the tumor response to RRx-001. The results support the concept that RRx-001 activates Nrf2-ARE antioxidant signaling pathways in tumor cells. Hence measurement of Nrf2-mediated activation of downstream target genes through ARE signaling may constitute a useful molecular biomarker for the early prediction of response to RRx-001 treatment, and thereby guide therapeutic decision-making.


Computer-assisted modeling is an essential approach to design new devices. It speeds up the process from the initial idea to an actual device and saves resources by reducing the number of built prototypes. This is also a significant practical motivator behind scientific research in contemporary high-temperature superconductor (HTS) ac loss modeling. However, in the scientific literature in this field, consistent practices about modeling terminology have not been established. Then, it is up to the reader to decide, what is the true intent and meaning of the authors. Consequently, the interpretation of such literature might be very much reader dependent. An inseparable part of the whole modeling process is the development of modeling approaches and numerical methods and comparing the predictions obtained via modeling to experimentally achieved results. It is commonplace to discuss the accuracy of modeling results or the validation of a model. In this article, we discuss the terminology related to theories, models, and experiments in the context of HTS ac loss modeling. We discuss the recursive nature of theories and models in this context, discuss the compatibility of discrete formulations of physics utilized in our field with the corresponding continuum description, and interpret the perceived meaning of validation of a self-consistent model, shedding light on the relationships between theories, models, and measurements. We present our view on understanding these relations in the familiar context of ac losses in HTS, studying case examples through simulations and literature. As a result, we end this article with four conjectures describing our views.


Energy conservation is a major concern in wireless sensor networking. Conventionally in wireless communications, each bit transmitted by a node consumes one unit of energy. Some recent advances, however, explore silent time intervals between signal transmissions to convey information (Zhu and Sivakumar [1]). Such a scheme of Communication through Silence (CtS), while reducing energy consumption for sensor nodes, introduces long delay. In this paper, we propose Variable-Base Tacit Communication (VarBaTaC) to mitigate the delay introduced by CtS. We also develop three MAC protocols based on VarBaTaC for different environments. We then outline experiment designs for further investigations and point out some interesting future research directions.


A binary logistic model is developed for probabilistic prediction of a wet or dry day based upon daily rainfall data from 1981 to 2008 taken from 25 stations of Bagmati River basin. The predictor variables included in the model are daily relative humidity, air surface temperature, sea level pressure, v-wind which are expressed as principal components of 9 grids of the National Centers for Environmental Protection (NCEP)/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Reanalysis data with resolution of 2.5 0 ×2.5 0 . Principal component analysis is used to reduce the dimension of the predictors in the presence of spatial correlations between grids and thus reduce their multicollinearity effect. The result depicts that the model has 86.4 percent predictive capability in the analysis period (1981-2000) and 86.1 in the validation period (2001-2008) along with support of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The results demonstrate that the first two principal components of relative humidity are the key predictor variables with respective odds ratios (ORs) of 4.18 and 3.61, respectively. The other statistically significant predictors are the second principal component of v-wind with OR 1.43, the second and first principal components of air surface temperature with ORs 1.38 and 0.76, respectively and the first principal component of sea level pressure with OR 0.44. Goodness-of-fit test, ROC analysis and other main diagnostic tests showed that the fitted logistic model is characterized by good fits for analysis as well as validation period.


The growing prevalence of obesity and associated morbidity indicates the need for effective programs for sustainable lifestyle changes to achieve and maintain meaningful weight loss. The Practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction (POWER) trial found that a scalable, remotely-delivered intervention achieved significant and meaningful weight loss over 24 months compared to a usual care control group, with results that were statistically comparable to an in-person-based intervention also tested in the study and designed with the same principles. Given that results from clinical trials in research settings do not necessarily translate to larger scaled delivery of interventions, the objective of this study is to evaluate a pilot-implementation of Innergy, a weight loss program designed to replicate the remote-arm of the POWER trial that provided online support and regular telephonic coaching. An intention-totreat retrospective design evaluates weight loss within 6-months among 265 participants offered the program through their employer. The mean change in weight from baseline for the study group was -6.8 lbs. (P<0.0001) and 23% of participants lost 5.0% or more of their initial starting weight. Greater weight loss was associated with greater levels of participation. Specifically, members who utilized a broader range of program support components, took more coaching calls, regularly used the website, and tracked their weight, food and exercise lost significantly more weight. Similarly, longer duration of active participation was associated with greater weight loss. Participants who interacted with the program into the final month of study lost an average of 11.5 lbs, 5.0% of their starting weight. Study results show that Innergy is an effective weight loss program that can be delivered at scale, and thus can have a broad-spanning impact on obesity.


From the viewpoint of achieving rapid convergence, application of a Kalman filter to an adaptive array is considered. Compared with the Frost's (1972) constrained least-mean-square algorithm, the constrained Kalman algorithm for adaptive beamforming is proposed to overcome the problem of signal distortion along the look direction which occurs in the unconstrained Kalman beamformer of Baird (1974). A constraint on the array response along the look direction is added to the measurement equation of the Kalman filter. The weight vector of the constrained Kalman beamformer is derived and shown to converge to that of the minimum-variance distortionless-response beamformer. The convergence rate of the proposed algorithm is also analyzed. Compared to Baird's algorithm and the sidelobe canceller with one-step Kalman predictor, simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. >


Author(s): Shafer, Cynthia M. | Abstract: Bengazole A is a highly potent antifungal agent from a marine sponge of the genus Jaspis sp. The structure of bengazole A contains a bis-(oxazolyl)methanol moiety which is an unprecedented motif among natural products. In addition, bengazole A is the only known marine natural product that contains a C5 monosubstituted oxazole. This dissertation research describes work towards the total synthesis of bengazole A and the development of new synthetic methodology.Chapter 2 details the initial work on the synthesis of bengazole A including the attempted synthesis of the undescribed 2-formyloxazoline. While efforts to prepare a 2- formyloxazoline were unsuccessful, a novel oxidative rearrangement of 2-methyloxazoline to a dihydrooxazinone was discovered.Chapter 3 develops the methodology of the oxazoline-dihydrooxazinone oxidative rearrangement, describes the chemistry of 3-unsubstituted dihydrooxazinones, and utilizes the oxidative rearrangement for the synthesis of optically pure (S)-tert-leucine. The mechanism of the oxidative rearrangement was investigated by kinetic studies, isolation of an intermediate, and 13C labeling studies. These studies led to refinement of the proposed mechanism of reaction.Chapter 4 describes the preparation of an advanced intermediate incorporating C1-C9 of bengazole A by taking advantage of the ambident nucleophilicity of 2-lithiooxazole with preferential C4 addition to aldehydes. The aldehyde used in the synthesis, a precursor to the bengazole side chain, C1-C6, was prepared from the inexpensive sugar D-galactose.Chapter 5 outlines a synthetically useful preparation of C5 monosubstituted oxazoles for incorporation in the last stage of bengazole A synthesis. The methodology allows selective deprotonation-electrophilic addition at C5 of 2-methylthiooxazole for the construction of 5-substituted oxazoles. The methylthio group is then conveniently removed by reductive desulfurization with Raney nickel.


This essay engages gift theory and periodical studies to illuminate modernism's delicate dance between marketing and gifting, particularly as it is carried out in Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway in Bond Street" (1923). As Kathryn Simpson has discussed, Mrs. Dalloway contemplates purchasing the novel Cranford (1851) as a gift, thus contributing to the articulation of a feminine gift economy. The scene's relevance, however, can only be understood fully when Woolf's story is read in its original periodical context. In the pages of The Dial, a magazine that advertised itself as "a gift of distinction for people of discrimination," the story itself becomes part of a gift economy—one that extends beyond the fiction to the world of magazine readers. Examining both the material practice and the rhetoric of gift-giving, this essay shows how the intermingling of advertisement and literature in periodicals adjusts received understandings of consumer activity and artistic production.


Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) has become a serious concern for the lifetime reliability of integrated circuits. On-line aging prediction is a promising way to prevent NBTI-induced circuit failure. However, the ever-increasing parameter variations, design complexity and area overhead degrade the effectiveness of such delay detection-based scheme. In this paper, we propose to use the isolated leakage change in critical path from full-chip leakage measurement result to predict NBTI-induced circuit aging. The chip-level leakage changes under a set of measurement vectors are firstly formulated as an equation set. Solving this equation set can obtain leakage changes in the gates along the critical path. Then, we predict delay degradation on arbitrary critical path based on the correlation between leakage change and delay increase. Our scheme is immune to the runtime noise and accommodates process variation by increasing measurement time overhead. Experimental results demonstrate that our scheme can effectively predict NBTI-induced circuit aging with acceptable accuracy loss.


The genus Protatlanta is thought to be monotypic and is part of the Atlantidae, a family of shelled heteropods. These microscopic planktonic gastropods are poorly known, although research on their ecology is now increasing in response to concerns about the effects of ocean acidification on calcareous plankton. A correctly implemented taxonomy of the Atlantidae is fundamental to this progressing field of research and it requires much attention, particularly using integrated molecular and morphological techniques. Here we use DNA barcoding, shell morphology and biogeography to show that the genus Protatlanta includes at least two valid species in the Atlantic Ocean. Protatlanta souleyeti and Protatlanta sculpta were found to be separate species, with different shell morphology and separated by a K2P genetic distance of 19% sequence divergence at the Cytochrome Oxidase 1 gene. This evidence supports the revival of the species name P. sculpta, which was described by Issel in 1911, but has not been recognised as a valid species since 1915.


The problem addressed in this research is that engineers looking for interface designs do not have enough data about the interaction between multi-threaded dialogs and manual-visual tasks. Our goal was to investigate this interaction. We proposed to analyze how humans handle multi-threaded dialogs while engaged in a manualvisual task. More specifically, we looked at the interaction between performance on two spoken tasks and driving. The novelty of this dissertation is in its focus on the intersection between a manual-visual task and a multi-threaded speech communication between two humans. We proposed an experiment setup that is suitable for investigating multi-threaded spoken dialogs while subjects are involved in a manual-visual task. In our experiments one participant drove a simulated vehicle while talking with another participant located in a different room. The participants communicated using headphones and microphones. Both participants performed an ongoing task, which was interrupted by an interrupting task. Both tasks, the ongoing task and the interrupting task, were done using speech. We collected corpora of annotated data from our experiments and analyzed the data to verify the suitability of the proposed experiment setup. We found that, as expected, driving and our spoken tasks influenced each other. We also found that the timing of interruption influenced the spoken tasks. Unexpectedly, the data indicate that the ongoing task was more influenced by driving than the interrupting task. On the other hand, the interrupting task influenced driving more than the ongoing task. This suggests that the multiple resource model [1] does not capture the complexity of the interactions between the manual-visual and spoken tasks. We proposed that the perceived urgency or the perceived task difficulty plays a role in how the tasks influence each other.


We consider the consistent evaluation of perturbative (divergent) Green functions associated with fermionic tensor densities and the derivation of symmetry relations for them. We show that, in spite of current algebra methods being not applicable, it is possible to derive symmetry properties analogous to the Ward identities of vector and axial-vector densities. The proposed method, which is applicable to any previously chosen order of perturbative calculation, gives the same results as those of current algebra when such a tool is applicable. By using a very general calculational strategy, concerning the manipulations and calculations involving divergent Feynman integrals, we evaluate the purely fermionic two-point functions containing tensor vertices and derive their symmetry properties. The present investigation is the first step in the study and characterization of possible anomalies involving fermionic tensor densities, particularly in purely fermionic three-point functions.


SIR,-The paper by Dr. M. A. Chadd and others (27 November, p. 516) appears to lend support to other work on the effects of birth asphyxia on haemostasis in the new born.1 However, in fairness to themselves I feel that the authors should correct a number of inconsistencies which occur in their paper as published. The study purports to be on full-term infants, but yet in Table I the mean gestation of the hypoxic group is given as 35-1 weeks and that of the controls as 35-5 weeks. Antenatal complications (Table I) are recorded as 46± 10-2% (hypoxic) and 17± 7.8% (control). Surely antenatal complications were or were not present in each case? There is no mention of what antenatal complications were recorded. Rectal temperature below 35'C in the first 24 hours (Table I) is recorded as 4 ± 4-1 % for the hypoxic group and 25 ± 8-8% for the control group. Again it is difficult to see what these figures mean and any interpretation put on them seems incompatible with the text statement that a rectal temperature below 35'C was detected in a greater proportion of hypoxic babies (as compared with control babies). The statement in the discussion that this work suggests that "disseminated intravascular coagulation is a frequent factor of major importance in infants who die shortly after birth with haemorrhage" hardly seems justified in a paper devoted to babies with low Apgar scores in whom "there was no overt evidence of haemorrhage." Finally, the statement in the summary that "the consumption of clotting factors . . . led to the appearance of an haemorrhage diathesis" is at variance with the clinical findings reported.-I am, etc., J. S. WIGGLESWORTH Institute of Child Health, Neonatal Department of the Institute, London W.12


The world faces two existential threats: climate change, and nuclear Armageddon. Action on both is required urgently. Tackling the first will impose significant economic costs and lifestyle adjustments, while tackling the second will bring economic benefits without any lifestyle implications. Those who reject the first are derided as denialists; those dismissive of the second are praised as realists. Although action is needed now in order to keep the world on this side of the tipping point, a climate change-induced apocalypse will not occur until decades into the future. A nuclear catastrophe could destroy us at any time, although, if our luck holds out, it could be delayed for another six decades. The uncomfortable reality is that nuclear peace has been upheld, owing as much to good luck as to sound stewardship. Because we have learned to live with nuclear weapons for 66 years, we have become desensitized to the gravity and immediacy of the threat. The tyranny of complacency could yet exact a fearful price if we sleepwalk our way into a nuclear Armageddon. The time to lift the spectre of a mushroom cloud from the international body politic is long overdue.


Dipeptide repeat peptides on the attack Certain neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are associated with expanded dipeptides translated from RNA transcripts of disease-associated genes (see the Perspective by West and Gitler). Kwon et al. show that the peptides encoded by the expanded repeats in the C9orf72 gene interfere with the way cells make RNA and kill cells. These effects may account for how this genetic form of ALS causes disease. Working in Drosophila, Mizielinska et al. aimed to distinguish between the effects of repeat-containing RNAs and the dipeptide repeat peptides that they encode. The findings provide evidence that dipeptide repeat proteins can cause toxicity directly. Science, this issue p. 1139 and p. 1192; see also p. 1118 Repeated structural motifs encoded by disease genes impair RNA metabolism and cause cell death. [Also see Perspective by West and Gitler] Many RNA regulatory proteins controlling pre–messenger RNA splicing contain serine:arginine (SR) repeats. Here, we found that these SR domains bound hydrogel droplets composed of fibrous polymers of the low-complexity domain of heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNPA2). Hydrogel binding was reversed upon phosphorylation of the SR domain by CDC2-like kinases 1 and 2 (CLK1/2). Mutated variants of the SR domains changing serine to glycine (SR-to-GR variants) also bound to hnRNPA2 hydrogels but were not affected by CLK1/2. When expressed in mammalian cells, these variants bound nucleoli. The translation products of the sense and antisense transcripts of the expansion repeats associated with the C9orf72 gene altered in neurodegenerative disease encode GRn and PRn repeat polypeptides. Both peptides bound to hnRNPA2 hydrogels independent of CLK1/2 activity. When applied to cultured cells, both peptides entered cells, migrated to the nucleus, bound nucleoli, and poisoned RNA biogenesis, which caused cell death.


When does a drawing turn into a performance? Is the act of drawing in itself a performative process, whether a viewer is present or not? Performance Drawing: New Practices Since the 1960s is an exploration of interdisciplinary artists who actively use the word or express the 'performative' in their drawing practice, and who are connected by both performance and drawing. Through original interviews, reflections on and analysis of artists' works, the authors illuminate what it might mean to perform, and what it might mean to draw, in contemporary practice since the 1960s.

As the first book to be published on this subject, the term 'performance drawing' is used as a trope, or a thread of thinking, to describe a process of drawing dedicated to broadening the field through resourceful practices and cross-disciplinary influence. While engaged in the act of drawing as a performative process, the book addresses themes of ephemerality and immediacy that encompass body and energy, time and motion, light and space, intention and execution, liveness and documentation. It examines dynamic interactions through cross-disciplinary influences, addressing key developments and future directions that are dedicated to broadening the field of drawing and inspiring a diverse range of approaches to performance drawing.

Featuring a wide range of international artists, the acclaimed practitioners from the 1960s, such as Alison Knowles, Carolee Schneemann, Richard Long, Robert Morris, Tom Marioni, Trisha Brown and William Kentridge, have been instrumental in instituting and exposing the relationship between drawing and performing. This book provides the foundation behind these pioneers, alongside a platform for current and emerging artists, and for those working between the boundaries of the genre. Merging experiences and disciplines in the expanded field has established a vibrant art movement that has been progressively burgeoning in the last few years.


Ti is introduced as a dopant during the atomic layer deposition (ALD) growth of ZnO for use as a transparent electrode. ALD-grown Ti-doped ZnO (TZO) films are deposited via alternate stacking of ZnO and TiOx atomic-doping layers. Their growth behavior, structural, electrical and optical properties are investigated. Macroscopic film growth and doping concentration characterization show that both diethylzinc and titanium tetrakis(isopropoxide) exhibit enhanced adsorption during the ALD of TZO films. Contrary to conventional homogeneous compounds, atomic-layer Ti doping by ALD results in a much higher electrical conductivity and doping efficiency compared to its Al counterpart. Specifically, the ALD-grown TZO films show an electrical conductivity of 951 S cm−1, nearly twice that of AZO films (591 S cm−1), thanks to the high doping efficiency of Ti (41%) and its extraordinary high mobility (>20 cm2 V−1 s−1). Such high electron mobility is likely due to a smaller concentration of inactivated dopants as scattering centers.


well-established mouse model of B cell lymphoma. Conclusions The zinc-finger-based transcriptional control system investigated in this study provides small molecule-inducible control over a therapeutically relevant anti-CD20 CAR in primary T cells in a timeand dose-dependent manner. The tight regulation of CAR expression will pave the way for safer cellular therapies. Disclosure Information B. Kotter: A. Employment (full or parttime); Significant; Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG. N. Werchau: A. Employment (full or part-time); Significant; Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG. W. Krueger: A. Employment (full or part-time); Significant; Lentigen Technology Inc. A. Roy: A. Employment (full or part-time); Significant; Lentigen Technology Inc. J. Mittelstaet: A. Employment (full or part-time); Significant; Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG. A. Kaiser: A. Employment (full or part-time); Significant; Miltenyi Biotec B. V. & Co. KG.


Raman spectroscopy has become a powerful analytical and research tool with assertion in almost all sciences and a wide range of technical and industrial branches. Although the fundamental principle of this method is known almost one hundred years, extensive potentialities which Raman spectroscopy offers are finally able due to a technical advancement and novel engineering solution of the last two decades. This technique is one of the most essential laser spectroscopic methods. This paper introduces the basic principle, advantages and disadvantages and demonstrates great applicability of Raman spectroscopy. Others currently examined applications are also presented.


Purpose: Polydatin, a stilbenoid glucoside of a resveratrol derivative, has many biological functions, including antitumor effects. However, the antitumor effects of polydatin in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have not been investigated. Materials and methods: In the current study, MTT assays, transwell invasion assays and wound healing assays were performed to examine cell proliferation, invasion and migration. An apoptosis nucleosome ELISA was used to measure apoptosis. Caspase activity assays were applied to measure the activities of caspase-3/9. A Western blot assay was used to measure the change in protein levels. Results: Our data demonstrated that polydatin inhibited the proliferation of RCC cells but not normal renal epithelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Polydatin also triggered apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner. Moreover, polydatin treatment also led to the downregulation of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 and to activation of Bax. Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 or silencing of Bax could repress the apoptosis that was induced by polydatin. Moreover, incubation with polydatin also suppressed the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in RCC cells. Conclusion: Taken together, our data indicated that polydatin may be applied as a potent agent against RCC.


In this article, the degree of representativeness of the examples (pairs of lexical units) which illustrate antonymous relations in the English language has been determined, utilizing the method of linguistic interviewing. The article presents the procedure and the results of the psycholinguistic experiment conducted. The peculiarities of the method of linguistic interviewing as a type of psycholinguistic experiment have been defined. A selection of antonymous pairs provided by leading linguists in the area of lexical semantics as illustrative examples in thirteen English-language linguistic works (monographs, textbooks and linguistic encyclopaedias) serves as the material for the experiment. All of the 101 respondents are scholars in the field of linguistics (Candidates (Ph.D.) and Doctors of Philological Sciences, as well as postgraduate students from the higher educational establishments of Ukraine), and are native speakers of Ukrainian, English being their first foreign language. In the experiment, the respondents were to identify which pairs of lexical items given in the list illustrate the relation of antonymy. After analyzing the results of linguistic interviewing, we were able to determine the pairs of antonyms with the highest and the lowest degrees of representativeness. The research demonstrated that gradable and complementary antonyms, mainly adjectives, have the highest degree of representativeness. In addition, we identified certain correlations with the results of linguistic interviewing conducted earlier, the respondents being linguistics scholars, including university and college professors, who are native speakers of English from five English-speaking countries.


Mutations in ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1) confer malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. How inherent impairments in Ca2+ channel regulation affect skeletal muscle function in myotubes and adult fibers under basal (nontriggering) conditions are not understood. Myotubes, adult flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) fibers, and sarcoplasmic reticulum skeletal membranes were isolated from heterozygous knockin R163C and wild-type (WT) mice. Compared with WT myotubules, R163C myotubes have reduced Ca2+ transient amplitudes in response to electrical field pulses; however, R163C FDB fibers do not differ in their responses to electrical stimuli, despite heightened cellular cytoplasmic resting Ca2+ ([Ca2+]rest) and sensitivity to halothane. Immunoblotting of membranes from each genotype shows similar expression of RyR1, FK506 binding protein 12 kDa, and Ca2+-ATPase, but RyR1 2844Ser phosphorylation in R163C muscle is 31% higher than that of WT muscle (p < 0.001). RyR1 channels reconstituted in planar lipid bilayers reveal ∼65% of R163C channels exhibit ≥2-fold greater open probability (Po) than WT, with prolonged mean open dwell times and shortened closed dwell times. [3H]Ryanodine (Ry) binding and single-channel analyses show that R163C-RyR1 has altered regulation compared with WT: 1) 3-fold higher sensitivity to Ca2+ activation; 2) 2-fold greater [3H]Ry receptor occupancy; 3) comparatively higher channel activity, even in reducing glutathione buffer; 4) enhanced RyR1 activity both at 25 and 37°C; and 5) elevated cytoplasmic [Ca2+]rest. R163C channels are inherently more active than WT channels, a functional impairment that cannot be reversed by dephosphorylation with protein phosphatase. Dysregulated R163C channels produce a more overt phenotype in myotubes than in adult fibers in the absence of triggering agents, suggesting tighter negative regulation of R163C-RyR1 within the Ca2+ release unit of adult fibers.


Abstract. The Coexistence Approach has been used to infer palaeoclimates for many Eurasian fossil plant assemblages. However, the theory that underpins the method has never been examined in detail. Here we discuss acknowledged and implicit assumptions and assess the statistical nature and pseudo-logic of the method. We also compare the Coexistence Approach theory with the active field of species distribution modelling. We argue that the assumptions will inevitably be violated to some degree and that the method lacks any substantive means to identify or quantify these violations. The absence of a statistical framework makes the method highly vulnerable to the vagaries of statistical outliers and exotic elements. In addition, we find numerous logical inconsistencies, such as how climate shifts are quantified (the use of a "centre value" of a coexistence interval) and the ability to reconstruct "extinct" climates from modern plant distributions. Given the problems that have surfaced in species distribution modelling, accurate and precise quantitative reconstructions of palaeoclimates (or even climate shifts) using the nearest-living-relative principle and rectilinear niches (the basis of the method) will not be possible. The Coexistence Approach can be summarised as an exercise that shoehorns a plant fossil assemblage into coexistence and then assumes that this must be the climate. Given the theoretical issues and methodological issues highlighted elsewhere, we suggest that the method be discontinued and that all past reconstructions be disregarded and revisited using less fallacious methods. We outline six steps for (further) validation of available and future taxon-based methods and advocate developing (semi-quantitative) methods that prioritise robustness over precision.


The learned policy of model-free offline reinforcement learning (RL) methods is often constrained to stay within the support of datasets to avoid possible dangerous out-of-distribution actions or states, making it challenging to handle out-of-support region. Model-based RL methods offer a richer dataset and benefit generalization by generating imaginary trajectories with either trained forward or reverse dynamics model. However, the imagined transitions may be inaccurate, thus downgrading the performance of the underlying offline RL method. In this paper, we propose to augment the offline dataset by using trained bidirectional dynamics models and rollout policies with double check. We introduce conservatism by trusting samples that the forward model and backward model agree on. Our method, confidence-aware bidirectional offline model-based imagination, generates reliable samples and can be combined with any model-free offline RL method. Experimental results on the D4RL benchmarks demonstrate that our method significantly boosts the performance of existing model-free offline RL algorithms and achieves competitive or better scores against baseline methods.


This paper analyses the relationship between production and purchase of milk. At the same time we analyse the purchase and sale of milk at the domestic as well as at the foreign markets using the time series statistical data. We present production of milk, dairy industry, and marketing of milk and dairy products. They are mutually dependent and interactive. The dairy processing industry is one of the three largest sectors in the Slovenian food processing industry. We the entry of Slovenia into the European Union and by the introduction of the Euro, we register substantial changes in the Slovenian dairy industry. These are increasing competitive pressure at the common market and pressures on the farm gate milk prices.


We propose and experimentally demonstrate an improved vectorial maximum likelihood sequence equalizer (MLSE) method that enhances inter-symbol-interference (ISI) mitigation in highly non-linearly distorted channel by self phase modulation (SPM) in a single channel system and cross phase modulation (XPM) in WDM system. The vectorial MLSE is based on "over sampling" of the distorted signal according to Nyquist criterion of the broadened signal spectrum due to SPM. For XPM, the noise caused by this effect is modeled using histogram estimation with multiple samples per bit. Experimental and computer simulation results indicate significant improvement of BER results using the proposed vectorial equalizer.


We have integrated the basic psychological needs approach from self-determination theory with motive disposition theory in order to enhance the prediction of flow experience in sports. We hypothesize that an environment that enables people to fulfill their basic psychological needs for competence and social relatedness results in flow. Additionally, we assume that the effect of competence need satisfaction is moderated by the achievement motive and that the effect of need-for-relatedness satisfaction is moderated by the affiliation motive. Four studies show the expected positive effects of need satisfaction on flow and further confirm that high achievement and affiliation-motivated individuals benefit more from competence and relatedness sports environments, respectively, than individuals low in these motives.