Pornography regulation is an area that has always courted controversy and academic debate. States have responded to pornography in different ways, ranging from absolute prohibition to partial regulation. While regulation of traditional pornography was principally based on morality and prevailing societal values, some post-Internet legislative measures have centred on the detrimental or harmful effects of pornography as the primary cause for censorship and regulation. New forms of technology facilitated new forms of expression, and it did not take too long for pornographers to realise the potential of the Internet, which now plays host to vastly differing types of pornography, from 'normal' adult porn to content that includes children, violence, torture and animals. Not all content involves real actors; some being merely realistic depictions produced using digital technology, such as morphing, while some are just cartoons. However, recent legislative initiatives increasingly blur the distinction between what is real and mere acting, or, in some cases, even works of art, albeit that which may be perceived as being in bad taste or repulsive. It is the perceived harm to society that is held out as the rationale for regulation, but this single classification on the basis of harm has generated substantial discussion among legal experts and academics. This paper examines the legality of regulating simulated child pornography and adult extreme pornography with a possession offence, and sheds light on the questionable wisdom of certain state initiatives that sometimes impose constraints on protected civil and fundamental rights. To find a balance between what is acceptable and what should be censored speech is a delicate act in this context, but recent legislative trends represent a worrying deviation from the traditional regulatory approach to pornography. The paper will highlight a number of specific trends in the process and will seek to argue that over-zealous legislation is no panacea to the problem and other alternatives need to be explored.


Objectives:Despite increasing evidence supportive of the effectiveness of coaching there are no studies which demonstrate that the benefits flow on to improvements in objective performance as assessed by evaluators blind to participation in the coaching. This study examined the efficacy of two coaching programmes on independently assessed performance.Design:A double-blind random control trial in which participants were randomly allocated to either a Preparation, Action, Adaptive Learning (PAAL), or a self-regulation co-coaching programme with blind assessment of subsequent academic performance. A third no-treatment condition was used for additional comparison and control of expectancy effects.Methods:Two structurally identical seven-week co-coaching programmes were run. The Self-regulation condition focused on the development of study and coping skills, whilst the PAAL condition additionally focused on preparation for change and adaptive learning. Fifty-two volunteer first-year university students were randomly assigned to either a PAAL (N=27) or Self-regulation (N=25) co-coaching programme. Participants completed self-report pre- and post-measures of academic self-efficacy, decisional balance, resilience, hope, self-compassion and belief in the incremental theory of change. Academic results for the two coaching conditions were compared with 2103 first-year students who did not participate in the programme.Results:Participants in both coaching conditions reported significant improvements in self-efficacy and resilience, but only those in the PAAL condition experienced significant increases in decisional balance, hope, self-compassion and belief in the incremental theory of change. Participants in the PAAL condition experienced significantly greater increases in six of the seven dependent variables than participants in the Self-regulation condition. Relative to the no treatment control group, PAAL participants performed 10 per cent better in independently assessed academic performance (71.45 per cent vs. 61.59 per cent) (p=.0003, d=.61), however, those in the Self-regulation coaching condition only performed two per cent better (63.32 per cent vs. 61.59 per cent) (p=.604, d=.11). Across all the dependent variables the average effect size for the PAAL condition was d=.93, while the Self-regulation condition averaged d=.43.Conclusion:Both co-coaching conditions produced significant increases in self-efficacy and resilience, however, only those in the PAAL condition performed significantly better on decisional balance, hope, self-compassion, the incremental theory of change, and independently assessed academic performance. To ensure generalisation, future evaluation studies of coaching should seek to also evaluate variables which are theoretically related to the change process as well as independently assessed objective changes in performance.


In generative modeling, the Wasserstein distance (WD) has emerged as a useful metric to measure the discrepancy between generated and real data distributions. Unfortunately, it is challenging to approximate the WD of high-dimensional distributions. In contrast, the sliced Wasserstein distance (SWD) factorizes high-dimensional distributions into their multiple one-dimensional marginal distributions and is thus easier to approximate. In this paper, we introduce novel approximations of the primal and dual SWD. Instead of using a large number of random projections, as it is done by conventional SWD approximation methods, we propose to approximate SWDs with a small number of parameterized orthogonal projections in an end-to-end deep learning fashion. As concrete applications of our SWD approximations, we design two types of differentiable SWD blocks to equip modern generative frameworks---Auto-Encoders (AE) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN). In the experiments, we not only show the superiority of the proposed generative models on standard image synthesis benchmarks, but also demonstrate the state-of-the-art performance on challenging high resolution image and video generation in an unsupervised manner.


Basic and translational research on lung biology and pathology can greatly benefit from the development of 3D in vitro models with physiological relevance. Lung organoids and lungs-on-chip allow the creation of different kinds of in vitro microenvironments, that can be useful for the elucidation of novel pathogenetic pathways, for example concerning tissue fibrosis in chronic diseases. Moreover, they represent important translational models for the identification of novel therapeutic targets, and for preliminary testing of new drugs. In this chapter, we provide a selected overview of recent studies on innovative 3D in vitro models that have enhanced our knowledge on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), particularly concerning oxidative stress and pro-fibrotic pathogenetic mechanisms. Despite several limitations, these complex models must be considered as complementary in all respects to in vivo studies on animal models and clinical research.


Bilinear maps have become an important new item in the cryptographer's toolkit. They first came to prominence when they were used by Menezes, Okamoto and Vanstone to help solve the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem on elliptic curves of small embedding degree.

In 1984, Shamir developed the first identity based signature scheme, and posed the construction of an identity based encryption scheme as an open problem [118]. Subsequently identity based identification and identity based key agreement schemes were proposed. However, identity based encryption remained an open problem. In 2000, Sakai, Ohgishi and Kasahara used bilinear maps to implement an efficient identity based non-interactive key agreement and identity based digital signature [111]. In 2001, some 17 years after it was suggested, Boneh and Franklin proposed the first efficient identity based encryption scheme, constructed using bilinear maps [31].

In this thesis we review some of the numerous cryptographic protocols that have been constructed using bilinear maps.

We first give a review of public key cryptography. We then review the mathematics behind the two known bilinear maps, the Weil and Tate pairings, including several improvements suggested m [67, 14]. We develop a Java library to implement pairing based cryptography. In Ch 4 we look at some of the cryptographically hard problems that arise from bilinear maps. In Ch 5 we review identity based signature schemes and present the fastest known scheme. In Ch 6 we review some encryption schemes, make some observations that help improve the performance of many identity based cryptosystems, and propose the fastest scheme for public key encryption with keyword search. In Ch 7 we review identity based key agreements and propose the fastest scheme secure in a modified Bellare-Rogaway model [19]. In Ch 8 we review identity based signcryption schemes and present the fastest known scheme.


Abstract A new genetic model is proposed for the formation of the St Austell kaolin deposits, incorporating geological, isotopic, paragenetic and microthermometric evidence from kaolin-quartz veins combined with a reconstruction of the thermal evolution of the Cornubian pluton during the Mesozoic. Fluid inclusions in quartz, paragenetically associated with kaolin, document that the kaolinization took place at temperatures between 50°C and 100°C, indicating that the kaolinization is a low-temperature hydrothermal event coincident with the oil generation window. Kaolinization occurred prior to the unroofing of the pluton, during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous. The kaolinization is thus contemporary with the major Early Cretaceous uplift that affected the Cornubian massif as a consequence of rifting in the offshore Western Approaches. Geological, isotopic and geochemical considerations argue strongly against the involvement of unmodified meteoric waters in the kaolinization process. The most plausible fluid types for the kaolinization are either basinal brines expelled from Permo-Triassic sediments of the adjacent offshore Plymouth Basin, or highly evolved meteoric waters that circulated through the sediments enclosing the pluton. The kaolinization process converted large volumes of fractured granite to a porous quartz-kaolin rock matrix.


A number of critical factors influence the competitiveness of any biodiesel, including feedstock availability, production costs, byproducts produced, and government subsidies. In this situation, a cost-effective and environmentally acceptable supply of biodiesel is required. When compared to other non-edible oil sources, algal oil is a significant emerging non-edible biodiesel source. The current study includes tests on pure diesel and its three algae oil blends. When the properties of the biodiesel made from the oils were tested, the results were within the acceptable limits. The engine test results show that, aside from NO X emissions, biodiesel blends emit very little carbon when compared to diesel. When biodiesel blends were used, the engine required more fuel. The results of the performance tests revealed that the biodiesel blends had better and more complete combustion. This research shows that biodiesel blends of up to 20 % can be a better substitute for pure diesel fuel and can be used in CI engines without modification.


Objectives : Thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly are common features in several haematological disorders. Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder frequently characterized by thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly, which represents a clinical challenge for haematologists and internists. Case : We describe the case of a 37-year-old patient with a diagnosis of spherocytosis since childhood, who developed hepatic failure and presented striking features of GD including hepatosplenomegaly, bone fractures and post-partum bleeding. We reconsidered the diagnosis of spherocytosis and investigated Gaucher disease. Conclusion : GD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly.


In the present investigation we focused on 2 broad sets of questions: Do parental overreactivity, laxness, and corporal punishment show evidence of normative change in early to middle childhood? Are persistently elevated child conduct problems (CPs) associated with deviations from normative changes in, as well as high initial levels of, discipline practices? Four hundred fifty-three couples with 3- to 7-year-old children were recruited via random digit dialing and studied at 3 annual assessments. Parents completed questionnaire measures of all study constructs. Normative declines were found in maternal corporal punishment and laxness. Maternal overreactivity showed a normative increase. For fathers, only corporal punishment showed evidence of a normative decline. The declines in mothers' corporal punishment and laxness, and in fathers' corporal punishment, exhibited little variability. In contrast, the trajectories of maternal overreactivity were significantly variable. High-increasing CPs were more common than low-stable CPs in families with greater increases in maternal overreactivity. High-increasing CPs were also more common in families with greater initial maternal overreactivity and corporal punishment. Yet in no case did discipline practices significantly distinguish children on high-increasing versus high-decreasing CPs trajectories. In tests of alternative models, child effects were found for all parenting variables, suggesting reciprocal causation. The findings are discussed relative to etiological models of CPs and implications for preventive intervention.


The paper analyzes energy efficiency for the road transport of Russia and its regions against the backdrop of the ongoing processes in the EU countries. The emphasis is laid on mathematical modeling of energy consumption forecasts for the transport sector. The results show that despite the fact that economy of Russia as a whole has a relatively low level of energy efficiency however in road transport the situation is different. Total consumption of energy in Russia's transport sector is expected to decrease by 15% by 2040, despite a significant increase in the number of vehicles. However, unlike in the EU, the share of renewable sources of energy will be relatively low in the structure of energy consumption in Russia.


Oscillatory gas flows are commonly generated by micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. Due to their small size and high operating frequencies, these devices often produce noncontinuum gas flows. Theoretical analysis of such flows requires solution of the unsteady Boltzmann equation, which can present a formidable challenge. In this article, we explore the applicability of the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method to such linear oscillatory noncontinuum flows; this method is derived from the linearized Boltzmann Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) equation. We formulate four linearized LB models in the frequency domain, based on Gaussian-Hermite quadratures of different algebraic precision (AP). The performance of each model is assessed by comparison to high-accuracy numerical solutions to the linearized Boltzmann-BGK equation for oscillatory Couette flow. The numerical results demonstrate that high even-order LB models provide superior performance over the greatest noncontinuum range. Our results also highlight intrinsic deficiencies in the current LB framework, which is incapable of capturing noncontinuum behavior at high oscillation frequencies, regardless of quadrature AP and the Knudsen number.


Many problems in machine learning can be solved by rounding the solution of an appropriate linear program (LP). This paper shows that we can recover solutions of comparable quality by rounding an approximate LP solution instead of the exact one. These approximate LP solutions can be computed efficiently by applying a parallel stochastic-coordinate-descent method to a quadratic-penalty formulation of the LP. We derive worst-case runtime and solution quality guarantees of this scheme using novel perturbation and convergence analysis. Our experiments demonstrate that on such combinatorial problems as vertex cover, independent set and multiway-cut, our approximate rounding scheme is up to an order of magnitude faster than Cplex (a commercial LP solver) while producing solutions of similar quality.


Army Installations often expand their use of digital control systems for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning and other mechanical and electrical building systems on a building-by-building basis. Associated control systems are installed under separate contracts by different contractors resulting in intra-system incompatibilities. The implementation of multi-vendor Open Building Automation Systems (BASs) is meant to overcome such incompatibilities; however BASs can present their own technical and administrative (including contractual) challenges. This report defines a methodology for the development and execution of a basewide Open Building Automation System (BAS) implementation plan based on LONWORKS ® technology and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) communications standard 709.1 where the BAS consists of a basewide Utility Monitoring and Control System (UMCS) that is interoperable with multi-vendor LONWORKS ® direct digital control (DDC) systems. ERDC/CERL TR-08-12 iii


: A large number (550) pressure chamber experiments in which 200 suited subjects simulated an egress from the spacecraft (decompression from 760 to 20--10 mm Hg) showed a relationship between decompression sickness frequency and severity, space suit absolute pressure (160--310 mm Hg), time of the exposure (1--10 hours) and desaturation (15--60 min), and exercise load (150--400 Cal/hr). Without desaturation there were no decompression sickness symptoms at a suit pressure of 270--310 mm Hg. An egress into space in a suit at a pressure of 160--230 mm Hg after 15--60 min desaturation induced bends of different severity. Less frequent cases of decompression sickness in our experiments as compared with the literature data (obtained on unsuited subjects) can be attributed to the peculiar kinematics of movements and excessive pressure in the suit.


This watchfulness aim to detects the structure and composition of nature forest vegetation in Trisula Resort of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. This watchfulness is carried out at Trisula Resort nature forest of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, broadly 5.222,737 ha, in
december 2008. Vast quantity minimum or terracing quantity sampling determined with species area curve. The methods that used is stripe method federation and line compartment method so that in stripes made sample terracing. The vast sample compartment to each growth level covers: seedling of
the size compartment 2 x 2 m, saplings of the size compartment 5 x 5 m, pole or little tree of the size compartment 10 x 10 m, and tree of the size compartment 20 x 20 m. And then in this compartment done kind identification, total, count diameter (dbh), and tall.
The forest vegetation structure at Trisula Resort of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in several blocks that is Amprong, Jarak Ijo and Coban Trisula, show tropical forest generality, where does tree closeness of the size smaller always higher compared of the size larger ones tree.
Conditon be dinamic cycle existence instruction as tropical forests individuality in general. Recorded as much as 178 species from 77 kins in sample as big as 0.208 ha, several found flora endemic BTN-BTS like Magnolia blumei PRANTL, Cyathea tenggerensis (R.) Copel, and Cephaelis ipecachuanha TUSSAC. While formation and forest composition in ngadas block show secondary forest conditon. in this block chockablock ground covers has expansive and flame resistant like Imperata cylndrica L. , Eupatorium odoratum L., and many kind of Scrubs. This matter is caused because forest fire often happen in dry season every year it. Strightened
kinds like Casuarina junghuhniana Miq. , Acacia decurrens Willd. , Albizia lophanta (Willd)., and Vaccinium varingifolium (Bl.) Miq., be kinds general are met at these area. Then highest important values that has by several kinds in each block, show that kinds has part level or big
importance as the communities composition composers part.
The highest kind of variety level for stage seedlings up to tree that by variety index in Coban Trisula block, that is in tree as big as 3,7, with similiarity as big as 0,95, furthermore in pole as big as 3,56 with similiarity as big as 1, then in pole as big as 3,3 with similiarity as big as 0,9 and latest in seedling with value 2,8 with similiarity index as big as 1, while highest kind unity level for ground covers found in block amprong with value 3,53 and similiarity index as big as 0,89.


A consistent framework has been put forward to quantize the isentropic, compressible and inviscid fluid model in the Hamiltonian framework using the Clebsch parametrization. The naive quantization is hampered by the non-canonical (in particular, field dependent) Poisson bracket algebra. To overcome this problem, the Batalin–Tyutin (1992 Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 6 3255) quantization formalism is adopted in which the original system is converted to a local gauge theory and is embedded in a canonical extended phase space. In a different reduced phase-space scheme (Mitra P and Rajaraman R 1990 Ann. Phys., NY 203 157, Anishetty R and Vytheeswaran A S 1993 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 26 5613) also, the original model is converted to a gauge theory and subsequently the two distinct gauge invariant formulations of the fluid model are related explicitly. This strengthens the equivalence between the relativistic membrane (where a gauge invariance is manifest) and the fluid (where the gauge symmetry is hidden). Relativistic generalizations of the extended model are also touched upon.


It is frequently claimed that Britain's environmental policy is second to none. In fact, Britain's record on the environment is one of the worst in the industrialized world. The food we eat contains additives and hormones, many of which have been banned in other countries; farmers are permitted to spray chemicals outlawed in the USA; the controls of radioactive discharges from Britain's reprocessing plant are the least stringent in Europe; and Britain has consistently refused to control the ravages of acid rain. Labour and Conservative administrations alike have show equal disregard for the most pressing environmental problems. In this book, environmental journalists, academics and activists critically assess the environmental record of successive British governments. They consider vital issues such as lead pollution, acid rain, hazardous waste, pesticides, nuclear pollution, nuclear dumping, cancer policy, asbestos, nutritional policy, drugs, river pollution, farming policy and wildlife. The result is an invaluable handbook which will be essential reading for anyone concerned with the environment in which we live.


Large quantities of biosynthetic human proinsulin have recently become available through recombinant DNA technology. Since the in vivo effects of human proinsulin have not been studied in man, we compared the dose-response relationship for stimulation of glucose disposal and suppression of hepatic glucose output by proinsulin and insulin. Ten normal subjects were studied using the euglycemic glucose clamp technique. The human proinsulin and insulin infusion rates were chosen to achieve steady-state proinsulin levels 10-fold higher than insulin levels on a molar basis, based on previous observations that porcine proinsulin has ∼10% the potency of insulin. Proinsulin infusion rates of 2.75, 7.5, 22.5, and 45 μg/m2/min were compared with insulin infusion rates of 0.63,1.67, 5, and 10 μg/ m2/min. Primed, continuous infusions of insulin yielded steady-state levels within 25 min, whereas proinsulin levels did not reach a steady state for 120–180 min. The metabolic clearance rate of insulin was 11–12 ml/kg/min at the lower infusion rates but fell to 8.4 ml/kg/min at the highest infusion rate. The metabolic clearance rate of proinsulin was 3.0–3.5 ml/kg/ min at all infusion rates. Dose-response analysis demonstrated that proinsulin-mediated glucose disposal was ∼8% that of insulin. In contrast, proinsulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose output was ∼12% that seen with insulin. We conclude that: (1) primed, continuous infusions of proinsulin and insulin have considerably different kinetics; (2) the metabolic clearance rate of proinsulin is only −28% that of insulin, but the processes responsible for removal of insulin from the circulation are more saturable than those responsible for removal of proinsulin; and (3) proinsulin appears to exert a greater effect on hepatic than on peripheral tissues.


Human pregnancy is known to influence hepatic drug metabolism in a cytochrome (P450)-specific manner. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown, in part due to a lack of experimental models to study altered drug metabolism during pregnancy. In this study, we examined how pregnancy influences expression of major P450 isoforms in mice. Liver tissues were isolated from female FVB/N-mice at different gestational time points: prepregnancy, 7, 14, and 21 days of pregnancy, and 7 days postpartum. mRNA expression levels of major P450 isoforms (Cyp1a2, Cyp2a5, Cyp2b10, Cyp2c37, Cyp2d22, Cyp2e1, Cyp3a11, and Cyp3a41) in the liver tissues were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Whereas Cyp2a5 expression was unchanged, Cyp3a41 expression was significantly increased during pregnancy. In contrast, expression of Cyp1a2, Cyp2c37, Cyp2d22, Cyp2e1, and Cyp3a11 was decreased. Expression of Cyp2d22 and Cyp2e1 isoforms correlated with that of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α in the mouse livers, suggesting potential involvement of PPARα in down-regulation of the P450 expression during pregnancy. Effects of pregnancy on expression of other P450 mouse isoforms as well as on in vivo drug disposition remain to be characterized. These results provide a guide for future studies on P450 regulation during pregnancy.


Objectives: To estimate the impact of various mitigation strategies on COVID-19 transmission in a U.S. jail beyond those offered in national guidelines. Methods: We developed a stochastic dynamic transmission model of COVID-19 in one large urban U.S. jail among staff and incarcerated individuals. We divided the outbreak into four intervention phases: the start of the outbreak, depopulation of the jail, increased proportion of people in single cells, and asymptomatic testing. We used the next generation method to estimate the basic reproduction ratio, R0, in each phase. We estimated the fraction of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths averted by these interventions along with the standard measures of sanitization, masking, and social distancing interventions. Results: For the first outbreak phase, the estimated R0 was 8.23 (95% CrI: 5.01-12.90), and for the subsequent phases, R0, phase 2 = 3.58 (95% CrI: 2.46-5.08), R0, phase 3 = 1.72 (95% CrI: 1.41-2.12), and R0, phase 4 = 0.45 (95% CrI: 0.32-0.59). In total, the jail's interventions prevented approximately 83% of projected cases and hospitalizations and 89% of deaths over 83 days. Conclusions: Depopulation, single celling, and asymptomatic testing within jails can be effective strategies to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in addition to standard public health measures. Policy Implications: Decision-makers should prioritize reductions in the jail population, single celling, and testing asymptomatic populations, as additional measures to manage COVID-19 within correctional settings.


We analyze a quantum teleportation protocol based on spatially and temporally resolved direct photodetection of the collective emission from a pair of atoms, one of which is entangled with a single mode of an optical cavity. We focus on the performance of the protocol as characterized by the fidelity of the teleported state and the success probability. We find that the fidelity approaches unity as the spacing of the atoms becomes much smaller than the emission wavelength with a success probability of 0.25. The fidelity remains above the classical limit of 2/3 for all atomic spacings with the ultimate limit of performance coming from the spatial resolution of the photodetection.


Chronic alcoholism is accompanied by systemic involvement of the internal organs. Clinico-morphological forms of chronic alcoholism are distinguished on the basis of the prevailing organ pathology, Morphological data are presented, and pathogenesis of the lesions of the liver, heart, pancreas, and kidneys in patients with chronic alcoholism is analysed. The hepatic form may present alcoholic dystrophy, hepatitis or cirrhosis which are stages of progressing hepatopathy. The toxic and metabolic effect of ethanol is important in the pathogenesis of liver lesion. The cardiac form is characterized by the development of alcoholic myocardiodystrophy. In addition to the toxic influence of ethanol, hormonal and electrolyte changes and microcirculatory disorders play a role in its pathogenesis. Chronic calcifying pancreatitis in chronic alcoholism is associated with the effect of ethanol on the mediatory system. The renal form any present necronephrosis, hepatorenal syndrome, glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis. Their pathogenesis is determined by toxicity of ethanol, circulation of immune complexes in the blood, or immunosuppression.


Twenty-one patients for whom adequate clinical data were available were identified in a retrospective review of cases of Candida species isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following neurosurgery; 86% had indwelling cerebrospinal devices (shunts). Candida species were isolated from multiple CSF samples from 10 patients; CSF samples from seven of 10 were initially drawn through indwelling devices and those from nine of 10 were obtained by subsequent lumbar punctures. All of these patients were treated with antifungals, although therapy was delayed in 50% of cases until the second positive culture was reported. In 11 cases, Candida was the only isolate recovered from CSF samples drawn through indwelling devices; cultures of subsequent CSF samples obtained by lumbar puncture were negative in 10 of 11 cases. Only two patients for whom a single culture was positive for Candida species were treated with antifungals (both of whom were symptomatic), and none of the untreated patients died of infection. The clinical significance of a single positive CSF sample drawn through an indwelling device is difficult to assess, and a definitive diagnosis may require repeated cultures of CSF samples obtained by lumbar puncture.


PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Telehealth in neonatology is a rapidly expanding modality for providing care to neonatal patient populations. In this review, we describe the most recent published innovations in neonatal telehealth, spanning the neonatal ICU (NICU), community/rural hospitals and the patient's home.

RECENT FINDINGS
Telemedicine for neonatal subspecialty care has continued to expand, from well established uses in retinopathy of prematurity screening and tele-echocardiography, to applications in genetics and neurology. Within the NICU itself, neonatologist-led remote rounding has been shown to be a feasible method of increasing access to expert care for neonates in rural hospitals. Telehealth has improved parental and caregiver education, eased the NICU-to-home transition experience and expanded access to lactation services for rural mothers. Telemedicine-assisted neonatal resuscitation has improved the quality of resuscitation and reduced unnecessary neonatal transports to higher levels of care. Finally, the global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the expansion of neonatal telehealth.

SUMMARY
Telehealth provides increased access to expert neonatal care and improves patient outcomes, while reducing the cost of care for neonates in diverse settings. Continued high-quality investigation of the impacts of telehealth on patient outcomes and healthcare systems is critical to the continued development of neonatal telemedicine best practices.


Introduction: Thyroid diseases are the commonest endocrine disorders worldwide. According to a projection from various studies on thyroid disease, it has been estimated that about 42 million people in India suffer from thyroid diseases. Hypothyroidism patients are more prone for cardiovascular abnormalities. In our study we have studied the marker of ischemia, Ischemia Modified Albumin & marker of inflammation hs CRP in hypothyroidism patients. Objectives: 1. To estimate the thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4, TSH) in hypothyroidism patients compared with normal subjects 2. To estimate levels of IMA & hs CRP in hypothyroidism patients compared with normal subjects Materials and Method: The study group includes 61 hypothyroidism patients and 61 age & sex matched healthy controls. hsCRP was measured by immunoturbidimetric method using fully automated analyzer, IMA was measured by Albumin Cobalt Binding method & thyroid hormones are measured by ECLIA method. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16 version software. Results: In our study we have found that there is statistically significant (p value< 0.05) increase in hs-CRP & IMA levels in hypothyroidism patients compared to controls. Conclusion: The levels of IMA a marker of ischemia & hs-CRP a marker of inflammation were increased in patients with hypothyroidism. This indicates that the altered thyroid hormones have strong impact on the imbalances between the production of oxidants and their elimination by antioxidant systems in the circulation. The consequences of this imbalance cause lipid abnormality in the body which indicates that the hypothyroid patients are more prone for ischemic changes in the cardiac tissue leading to atherosclerosis & myocardial infarction. Therefore, estimation of these novel markers such as IMA & hs-CRP levels in hypothyroid patients might be useful as early markers to detect the future cardiac ischemic diseases.


Introduction Single-shot caudal analgesia is a useful technique in controlling postoperative pain in infraumbilical pediatric surgeries, although of a limited duration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and rate of success when incorporating dexmedetomidine or fentanyl to levobupivacaine in ultrasound (U/S)-guided caudal block for infraumbilical surgeries. Patients and methods This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted on 63 pediatric patients undergoing infraumbilical surgeries, allocated into three groups to receive inhalational anesthesia with an appropriately sized laryngeal mask airway, followed by U/S-guided caudal epidural block using either only 0.25% levobupivacaine (L), or incorporating it with 1 μg/kg fentanyl (LF) or 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine (LD) in a total volume of 0.7 ml/kg. Pain assessment using Children's and Infants' Postoperative Pain Scale (CHIPPS) score, time to first analgesic, and total analgesia required in the three groups and Ramsay sedation score were recorded. Hemodynamics and any adverse effects were also documented. Results None of the patients required intraoperative additional analgesia. A statistically significantly lower postoperative CHIPPS values with prolonged analgesic duration and time to rescue analgesia was observed in the levobupivacaine–fentanyl and levobupivacaine–dexmedetomidine groups (275±20.62 and 304.75±25.2, respectively) as opposed to the levobupivacaine only group (203.1±18), with an evident reduction in the total paracetamol dose required postoperatively (P<0.001). Arousable sedation time was significantly prolonged in the levobupivacaine–fentanyl and levobupivacaine–dexmedetomidine groups. Apart from pruritus and urine retention in the levobupivacaine–fentanyl group, no adverse events were recorded in all groups. Conclusion Caudal levobupivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg in pediatric patients undergoing infraumbilical surgeries provides prolonged postoperative analgesia comparable to levobupivacaine–fentanyl and superior to levobupivacaine alone, with reduced postoperative analgesic requirements and extended arousable sedation time. The use of U/S raises the safety and ensures the success of caudal block.


Network update enables Software-Defined Networks (SDNs) to optimize the data plane performance via southbound APIs. The single update between the initial and the final network states fail to handle high-frequency changes or the burst event during the update procedure in time, leading to prolonged update time and inefficiency. On the contrary, the continuous update can respond to the network condition changes at all times. However, existing work, especially "Update Algebra" can only guarantee blackhole- and loop-free. The congestion-free property cannot be respected during the update procedure. In this paper, we propose Coeus, a continuous network update system while maintaining blackhole-, loop- and congestion-free simultaneously. Firstly, we establish an operation-based continuous update model. Based on this model, we dynamically reconstruct an operation dependency graph to capture unexecuted update operations and the link utilization variations. Subsequently, we develop an operation composition algorithm to eliminate redundant update commands and an operation node partition algorithm to speed up the update procedure. We prove that the partition algorithm is optimal and can guarantee the consistency. Finally, extensive evaluations show that Coeus can improve the makespan by at least 179% compared with state-of-the-art approaches when the arrival rate of update events equals to three times per second.


Parametric image segmentation consists of finding a label field that defines a partition of an image into a set of nonoverlapping regions and the parameters of the models that describe the variation of some property within each region. A new Bayesian formulation for the solution of this problem is presented, based on the key idea of using a doubly stochastic prior model for the label field, which allows one to find exact optimal estimators for both this field and the model parameters by the minimization of a differentiable function. An efficient minimization algorithm and comparisons with existing methods on synthetic images are presented, as well as examples of realistic applications to the segmentation of Magnetic Resonance volumes and to motion segmentation.


Cytoplasmic dynein is involved in a multitude of essential cellular functions. Dynein's activity is controlled by the combinatorial action of several regulators. The molecular mechanism of this regulation is poorly understood. Using purified proteins, we reconstitute the regulation of the human dynein complex by three prominent regulators on dynamic microtubules in the presence of end binding proteins (EBs). We find that dynein can be in biochemically and functionally distinct pools: either passively tracking dynamic microtubule plus-ends in an EB-dependent manner or moving processively towards minus ends in an adaptor protein-dependent manner. Whereas both dynein pools share the dynactin complex, they have opposite preferences for binding other regulators, either the adaptor protein Bicaudal D2 (BicD2) or the multifunctional regulator Lisencephaly-1 (Lis1). Remarkably, dynactin, but not EBs, strongly biases motility initiation locally from microtubule plus ends by autonomous plus end recognition. BicD2 and Lis1 together control the overall efficiency of motility initiation. Our study provides insight into the mechanism of dynein activity regulation by dissecting the distinct functional contributions of the individual members of a dynein regulatory network.


INTRODUCTION
Denture disinfection is an indispensable procedure for preventing cross contamination and the maintenance of a healthy oral mucosa in patients rehabilitated with removable dental prosthesis. Nevertheless, they are known to cause changes in the physical and mechanical properties of denture base resins and acrylic resin denture teeth following immersion of a denture in a suitable chemical disinfectant solution or by undergoing microwave irradiation. One such mechanical property indicator for artificial tooth materials is hardness.

AIM
To assess the surface hardness of acrylic resin teeth of three different commercial brands (Ivoclar, Newace, Acryrock) following chemical (2% glutaraldehyde, 1% sodium hypochlorite) and microwave disinfections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten specimens of each of the three commercial brands were made for control and each simulated disinfection type and stored in distilled water at room temperature for 24 hours. After water storage, specimens were immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde and 1% sodium hypochlorite (one and three cycles) at room temperature for 10 minutes. Irradiation with microwave (one and three cycles) was done in domestic microwave for three minutes with the specimens immersed in 150 ml of distilled water. The specimens were stored in distilled water at room temperature for seven days after each disinfection cycle. Vickers hardness measurements were made using a hardness indenter under a load of 50 g force for 10 seconds. Data was subjected to repeated measure two-way ANOVA test and Tukey's test.

RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences for the variables disinfection, tooth, and cycle (p<0.05 for teeth & disinfectant interaction, p<0.05 cycle and disinfectant interaction). The mean surface hardness following one microwave disinfection cycle was lower than control, glutaraldehyde and sodium hypochlorite. Comparison among cycles revealed that microhardness was significantly decreased for three cycles of microwave disinfection.

CONCLUSION
It was concluded that there was no significant difference in microhardness when the teeth were subjected to chemical disinfection but three cycles of microwave disinfection produced decrease in the microhardness of different types of artificial teeth.


Tracking and maintaining satisfactory QoE for video streaming services is becoming a greater challenge for mobile network operators than ever before. Downloading and watching video content on mobile devices is currently a growing trend among users, that is causing a demand for higher bandwidth and better provisioning throughout the network infrastructure. At the same time, popular demand for privacy has led many online streaming services to adopt end-to-end encryption, leaving providers with only a handful of indicators for identifying QoE issues. In order to address these challenges, we propose a novel methodology for detecting video streaming QoE issues from encrypted traffic. We develop predictive models for detecting different levels of QoE degradation that is caused by three key influence factors, i.e. stalling, the average video quality and the quality variations. The models are then evaluated on the production network of a large scale mobile operator, where we show that despite encryption our methodology is able to accurately detect QoE problems with 72\%-92\% accuracy, while even higher performance is achieved when dealing with cleartext traffic


and keywords page. This is page 2 and should include (a) the article's full title, (b) an abstract of no more than 300 words, and (c) up to 5 keywords or phrases that reflect the content and major thrust of the article. The abstract should give a succinct account of the objective, methods, results, and significance of the research. Introduction. This section begins on page 3 and should clearly state the objective of the research in the context of previous work bearing directly on the subject. An extensive review of the literature is not usually appropriate. Methods. This section should be brief but provide sufficient information to permit others to replicate the study. Pertinent details of species, apparatus and equipment, procedures and experimental design should be described. All experiments involving human subjects must be conducted in accordance with principles embodied in the 149 Palliative and Supportive Care (2012), 10, 149–151. # Cambridge University Press, 2012 1478-9515/12 $20.00


Noise radar systems transmitting incoherent signal sequences have been proposed as powerful candidates for implementing compressively sampled detection and imaging systems. This paper presents an analysis of compressively sampled noise radar systems by formulating ultrawideband (UWB) compressive noise radar imaging as a problem of inverting ill-posed linear systems with circulant system matrices. The nonlinear nature of compressive signal recovery presents challenges in characterizing the performance of radar imaging systems. The suitability of noise waveforms for compressive radar is demonstrated using phase transition diagrams and transform point spread functions (TPSFs). The numerical simulations are designed to provide a compelling validation of the system. Nonidealities occurring in practical compressive noise radar systems are addressed by studying the properties of the transmit waveform. The results suggest that waveforms and system matrices that arise in practical noise radar systems are suitable for compressive signal recovery. Field imaging experiments on various target scenarios using a UWB millimeter wave noise radar validate our analytical results and the theoretical guarantees of compressive sensing.


In this study, Biosorption of hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solution by using biomass of Aspergillus niger was investigated. Different parameters such as initial pH, biosorbent amount, contact time and temperature were explored. The biosorption of Cr (VI) ions was highly pH dependent and the optimum pH for biosorption of Cr (VI) ions was found to be 2.0. Biosorption capacity of Cr (VI) ions decreased with increased biosorbent dosage. The biosorption equilibrium was established in about 120min of contact time. Equilibrium uptake of Cr (VI) ions onto biomass increased from 12.57 mg/g at 20°C to 19.48 mg/g at 40 °C for 20mg/L Cr (VI) ions concentration. The biosorption process followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the correlation coefficients from the pseudo-second order model were all higher than 0.997 in all studied temperatures. These results suggest that the biomass of Aspergillus niger is a promising biosorbent for removal of chromium (VI) ions from the wastewater.


Background Enteric fever is one of the most common diseases encountered worldwide and is endemic in Nepal. This study was conducted to access antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Salmonellaisolates from culture positive cases of enteric fever. Methods Altogether 505 blood samples were collected from patients clinically suspected of enteric fever attending HAMS Hospital. All blood samples were cultured by BACTEC method and sub cultured in blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. All isolates were identified by colony characteristics, biochemical tests and serotyping methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method interpreted with CLSI guideline. Result Isolation rate of Salmonellaspecies was 3.6 %. Among 18 Salmonellaisolates, 10 were S. typhi, 8 were S. paratyphi A. The prevalence rate of infection was high among the age group 11–20 years (50 %) and among the male patients. However, there was no significant association of enteric fever with gender of patients (P=2.47). All 18 isolates were sensitive to Amoxycillin, Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone and Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin. Majority of isolates were sensitive to Cefixime (94.4 %), Cotrimoxazole (94.4 %) and Cephotaxime (90 %). There were no any MDR isolates. Higher percentage of isolates was resistant to Nalidixic acid (87.5 %). Conclusion The decreased susceptibility to Fluroquinolones of S. typhi and S. Paratyphi A can be correlated with resistance to Nalidixic acid. Commonly used third generation Cephalosporins and rolled back first line drugs be the choice in case of NARS isolates.


The agent based approach is a well established methodology to model distributed intelligent systems. Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) are increasingly employed in applications dealing with safety and information critical tasks (e.g., in eHealth, financial, and energy domains). Therefore, transparency and the trustworthiness of the agents and their behaviors must be enforced. For example, employing reputation based mechanisms can promote the development of trust. Nevertheless, besides recent early stage studies, the existing methods and systems are still unable to guarantee the desired accountability and transparency adequately. In line with the recent trends, we advocate that combining blockchain technology (BCT) and MAS can achieve the distribution of the trust, removing the need for trusted third parties (TTP), potential single points of failure. This paper elaborates on the notions of trust, BCT, MAS, and their integration. Furthermore, to attain a trusted environment, this manuscript details the design and implementation of a system reconciling MAS (based on the Java Agent DEvelopment Framework (JADE)) and BTC (based on Hyperledger Fabric). In particular, the agents' interactions, computation, tracking the reputation, and possible policies for disagreement-management are implemented via smart contracts and stored on an immutable distributed ledger. The results obtained by the presented system and similar solutions are also discussed. Finally, ethical implications (i.e., opportunities and challenges) are elaborated before concluding the paper.


Author(s): Sin, Nancy Lin | Advisor(s): DiMatteo, M. Robin | Abstract: Developing health-promoting habits and adhering to prescribed treatments are critical components in the management of one's health. However, patient adherence is a challenging process that is affected by a variety of factors, including communication between the healthcare provider and patient. The objective of this study was to develop a reliable and valid rating scale, called the Discussions of Adherence in Medical Interactions Scale (DAMIS), to assess physician-patient communication regarding adherence. Four judges used the DAMIS to rate 135 audiotaped primary care interactions between 73 physicians and their 135 patients aged 60 and older. The DAMIS was shown to have adequate interrater reliability, and the DAMIS composites (physician communication, patient involvement, facilitators of adherence, and barriers to adherence) demonstrated good internal consistency reliability. The DAMIS was also shown to have excellent convergent validity due to its large correlations with another observer-rated measure of physician-patient communication, the Bayer Global Rating Scale (Haskard et al., 2008). Further evidence of validity was provided by the correlations between the DAMIS composites and patient satisfaction with decision-making and choice in the medical visits. As expected, when patients were more involved in the interaction, physicians reported being more satisfied with the patient and with their relationship. More discussion about facilitators of adherence was associated with greater physician satisfaction, whereas more discussion about barriers to adherence was associated with less physician satisfaction. Although the DAMIS composites were not significantly correlated with self-report measures of patient adherence, a regression analysis revealed that more patient involvement was associated with greater medication adherence over the past week, controlling for the other DAMIS composites and patient demographics. Physician-level analyses revealed that female physicians were more likely than male physicians to discuss barriers to adherence with their patients, and near-significant correlations suggest that older and more experienced physicians may be relatively less effective at communicating with patients. However, DAMIS scores did not differ based on physician attitudes (i.e., satisfaction with practice, quality of life, and stress), physician ethnicity, or aspects of their professional training. Strengths and limitations of the study, as well as clinical implications, are discussed.


Selection of sustainable and ornamental rosehip species is relevant for their widespread use in forest reclamation and landscaping of settlements in the arid region. The objects of research were rosehips with different areas of natural expansion: R. rugosa, including form alba War Rehder, R. cinnamomea, R. beggeriana, R. acicularis, R. spinosissima, R. canina growing at points of introduction on different soils. In 2018, June was the hottest month, while February was the coldest month in Volgograd region. The maximum deviation from the average monthly temperature was observed in March. July and January were the hottest and the coldest months, respectively, in Samara region. During the research period, the species of wild roses retained the life form of habitus, and their height varied from 1.0–2.0 m (medium-grown species) to 0.7–0.9 m (short species). Data on the resistance of rosehip species to the maximum and minimum temperatures can be the factual basis of systemarealogical forecasting for geographical points of introduction. The degree of demand of rosehips to soil fertility and light was revealed by poor-demanding species: R. beggeriana, R. cinnamomea, R. rugosa and R. spinosissima. The observing method of the Main Botanical garden, field and laboratory observations allowed to establish the duration of the phenological phases of the studied species. Rosehips, being ornamental throughout the growing season, are useful in forest reclamation and landscaping, depending on the growth and color of their flowers. Types of diseases and parasitic fungi were determined by mycological analysis and reference data. The most common disease of the studied species of rosehips is powdery mildew from the genus Sphaerotheca. Amino acid profile of rosehip fruits was determined by the capillary electrophoresis system "Kapel" at a wavelength of 250 nm and allowed to identify the most valuable by biochemical composition species. In the period of monitoring the winter hardiness of rosehips, the best result was shown by the species R. rugosa, R. cinnamomea and R. canina, belonging to the North American, European and Far Eastern collections. The method of a priori ranking of fruiting indicators based on the division of factors in the descending order of their contribution revealed the most promising species for use in bio technology. The total sum of ranks and the sum of squares of deviations were determined; the concordance coefficient and the degree of consistency of the researchers' opinions are obtained in accordance with the degrees-of-freedom breakdown. It was found that the use of biotechnological methods in modern seed production is the most pressing; the obtained results will contribute to the improvement and acceleration of the seed production process in the arid conditions of Volgograd region. Recommendations are given for the cultivation of rosehips depending on the natural and climatic conditions of the different districts of the region.
For citation: Solomentseva A.S., Lebed' N.I., Kolmukidi S.V., Mezhevova A.S. Selection of Resistant Species of Rosa L. for the Purposes of Forest Reclamation, Landscaping and Use in Biotechnology (On the Example of Volgograd Region). Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2020, no. 1, pp. 49–62. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2020-1-49-62


Brazil has attained remarkable economic progress over the past decade with parallel modernization and expansion of its agricultural sector. With continuing productivity increases and the availability of additional land suitable for farming, further growth in agricultural production and exports has become the norm. However, current domestic macroeconomic challenges, including slow income growth, a depreciating Real, and administered prices to control inflation, are further challenged by adverse external events, including the substantial depreciation of China's currency on prospects for soybean and beef exports. This confluence of domestic and foreign economic challenges will negatively impact the agricultural sector's ability to continue the pace of its projected growth and may significantly slow export expansion. If that should happen, world food prices may rise unless other world market suppliers such as the United States can fill the deficit. We evaluate the impact of these new developments and associated challenges on Brazil's agricultural sector and examine the response of production, trade, and market prices to changes in Brazil's macroeconomic situation.


It is widely accepted that the hippocampal place cells' spiking activity produces a cognitive map of space. However, many details of this representation's physiological mechanism remain unknown. For example, it is believed that the place cells exhibiting frequent coactivity form functionally interconnected groups—place cell assemblies—that drive readout neurons in the downstream networks. However, the sheer number of coactive combinations is extremely large, which implies that only a small fraction of them actually gives rise to cell assemblies. The physiological processes responsible for selecting the winning combinations are highly complex and are usually modeled via detailed synaptic and structural plasticity mechanisms. Here we propose an alternative approach that allows modeling the cell assembly network directly, based on a small number of phenomenological selection rules. We then demonstrate that the selected population of place cell assemblies correctly encodes the topology of the environment in biologically plausible time, and may serve as a schematic model of the hippocampal network.


As you may have heard, the Queen's Speech, which opened the 2008-2009 parliamentary year, included reference to the importance of rights for informal carers (House of Commons, 2008). I am no stranger to the world of informal caring as many of you may know. Indeed, I have made it no secret and frequently mention it at the annual Royal College of Nursing Congress and have done so since 2001. For those of you who may not be aware of the term 'informal carer', an informal carer is a person who looks after another, be it a friend, neighbour or relative, without pay, regulation, formal recognition or training. This is in contrast to 'formal carers' who are employed, paid, recognized, trained and in the case of many care professionals such as nurses and doctors, are regulated. Many, myself included, do both!


Business/IT strategic alignment has been discussed as a key subject for managers for a long time. This is while IT governance is also amongst the most important organizational subjects. Indeed, since IT has become an important resource for organizations, the governance of this resource is an essential subject that the organizations must go through. Combination of IT strategic alignment with IT governance could be an effective strategic innovation allowing organizations make efficient use of IT. For this reason, this research, aiming to find a way of achieving business/IT strategic alignment in organizations, and considering the issue of IT governance and identification of proper factors of COBIT framework, evaluates maturity level of strategic alignment in Iran's banking and financial organizations. Findings of the research are indicative of the importance of paying attention to both alignment and governance of IT in organizations, and use of the results in strategic planning of the organizations. In this research, collecting data from 124 senior, middle, and junior managers of 7 Iranian banking/financial organizations, and while evaluating maturity level of alignment using factor analysis and structural equation model (SEM), we study the relationship between the alignment achieved through Luftman Model and IT governance as the independent factor in presence and absence of identified COBIT factors.


Background

There are many barriers to patient participation in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of
cancer treatments. To increase participation in trials, strategies need to be identified to
overcome these barriers. The National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) commissioned a
systematic review of the evidence-base for interventions to increase cancer patient
participation in trials.

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to overcome barriers to participation in RCTs
of cancer treatments.

Methods

Fifteen electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and System for
Information and Grey Literature in Europe, and Science and Social Science Citation Index
were searched from inception to January 2005 for published and unpublished studies in any
language. Bibliographies of potentially relevant articles were searched. Two reviewers
independently assessed titles and abstracts and also full papers where these were obtained.

Studies of any interventions to improve cancer patient participation in RCTs, which reported
participation rates, were eligible for inclusion. RCTs and non-RCTs as well as before and
after studies reporting baseline rates specific to the population being investigated were
included.

Data were extracted by one reviewer into structured summary tables and checked for
accuracy by a second reviewer. Each included study was assessed against a checklist for
methodological quality by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer.

A narrative synthesis was conducted. Studies were grouped according to relevance to the
UK setting and within this by study design.

Results

Eight studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria: three RCTs, two non-RCTs and
three observational studies. Six of the studies had an intervention that had some relevance to
the UK. The majority of studies were concerned with some aspect of the consent process.
There was no evidence that any of the interventions investigated led to an increase in cancer
patient participation in RCTs, though one good quality RCT found that urologists and nurses
were equally effective at recruiting participants to a treatment trial for prostate cancer.
Although there was no evidence of an effect in any of the studies, the evidence was not of
sufficient quality to be able to conclude that these interventions therefore do not work. Overall,
the studies had a range of methodological weaknesses. In particular, in most of the studies
there was a risk of contamination between the experimental and comparison intervention
leading to a possible dilution of the effect of the experimental intervention.

Conclusions

There is not a strong evidence-base for interventions that increase cancer patient
participation in randomised trials. Further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness
of strategies to increase participation in cancer treatment trials.


Abstract Deposits in caves and rock-shelters typically occur in the form of low-resolution palimpsests or time-averaged deposits, resulting from the superimposition of repeated and variable episodes of occupation, low rates of sedimentation and mixing by natural and anthropogenic processes. Despite the development of an impressive array of analytical techniques to disentangle these palimpsests into their constituent episodes of occupation, high resolution chronologies and detailed snapshots of activity areas and spatial organization have proved elusive. Here we suggest that, rather than seeing palimpsests as a problem, we take them as they are, as mixtures of materials that may have been actively recognized as such by the prehistoric occupants and deliberately enhanced, providing both physical resources that could be recycled for subsequent use and material cues for a sense of time and place. We illustrate this approach through a comparison of the spatial and material structure of four Upper Palaeolithic cave deposits in Southeast Europe, focusing on hearths and hearth-related distributions of material as clues to the active role of palimpsests in determining the use histories of different places.


OBJECTIVE
To test the physiological properties of human insulin in which the amino acids Thr (B27) and Pro (B28) are interchanged (PT insulin). This was hypothesised to prevent dimerisation and accelerate the absorption from s.c. tissue without altering the affinity for the insulin receptor.

DESIGN
PT insulin was expressed in Pichia pastoris and processed in vitro. The purified compound was used for physiological investigations.

METHODS
Receptor binding activity to insulin and IGF receptors was evaluated in a competition assay using iodinated PT insulin and recombinant receptors while growth induction properties were evaluated by thymidine incorporation. Absorption kinetics from pig subcutis was investigated by measuring the disappearance of iodinated PT insulin. The potency was evaluated by measuring the blood glucose lowering activity in mice.

RESULTS
The absorption of PT insulin was accelerated compared with human insulin, although still slower than Asp (B28) insulin. Human and PT insulin had similar affinities for the human insulin receptor (K(d)=3.6 x 10(-12) vs 5.2 x 10(-12) mol/l) while the affinity for the IGF receptor was four times higher for PT insulin than for human insulin (K(d)=3.4 x 10(-8) vs 1.3 x 10(-7) mol/l). This resulted in a slightly higher DNA synthesis when assayed in intermediary insulin concentrations. The blood glucose lowering effect in mice exceeded the effect of human insulin (integral 0-60 min: 61.4+/-7 vs 30+/-4, n=6, P=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS
PT insulin is absorbed faster and is more potent than human insulin. Although PT insulin stimulates growth more than human insulin, this will not prevent its use in the clinic, but the main interest will probably focus on investigations to clarify the paradox of full biological activity in connection with the recently described lack of structure in the B-chain.


Between 200 BCE and 500 CE, Hopewell culture was flourishing across much of Eastern North America. They were living in dispersed sedentary households, and engaging in low-level food production, however, they are best known for building the large conglomerations of earthworks and mounds scattered across the Ohio Valley. Their impressive mounds have been excavated and documented, but not much is known about the domestic lives of these people. As archaeologists have started excavating Ohio Hopewell domestic sites, they have noticed that pottery not only is important in their burials, but also plays an important role in their daily lives as features associated with their dwellings contain many broken pieces of pottery. The pottery from both the domestic sites and the mounds has been classified, but archaeologists have not tried to recreate Ohio Hopewell pottery-making methods. This past semester, Geneseo student Kara James has been doing experimental research on the temperature firing ranges that the Ohio Hopewell used for their pottery production. This presentation is based on her research, findings, and methodology.


We present an analysis of
electromagnetic oscillations in a spherical conducting cavity filled
concentrically with either dielectric or vacuum layers. The fields are given
analytically, and the resonant frequency is determined numerically. An
important special case of a spherical conducting cavity with a smaller
dielectric sphere at its center is treated in more detail. By numerically
integrating the equations of motion we demonstrate that the transverse electric
oscillations in such cavity can be used to accelerate strongly relativistic
electrons. The electron's trajectory is assumed to be nearly tangential to the dielectric sphere.
We demonstrate that the interaction of such electrons with the oscillating
magnetic field deflects their trajectory from a straight line only slightly.
The Q factor of such a resonator only
depends on losses in the dielectric. For existing ultra low loss dielectrics, Q can be three orders of magnitude
better than obtained in existing cylindrical cavities.


Objectives: Ovarian cancer mortality remains high mainly due to late diagnosis. Since 1999 we have performed color Doppler transvaginal (CDTV) ultrasound as a form of screening for ovarian cancer. The purpose of this paper is to assess the efficiency of CDTV ultrasound to detect early stages of ovarian cancer. Methods: Screening CDTV ultrasound has been annually performed in asymptomatic women without a family history of ovarian cancer. Women with abnormal screen had repeat tests after 4–6 weeks. If the finding remitted, CDTV follow-up at one year. If the abnormality persisted, the study was completed with tumor markers, CT scan and laparoscopy. Results: A total of 184.660 screen CDTV ultrasounds were performed in 71.166 women. In 46 patients a malignant tumor was diagnosed and histologically confirmed. In eighteen of them (41%), a borderline lesion was detected. The mean age of the patients was 48 years (± 12). Thirty-four (77.3%) of these tumors were in stage I (including two cases of Fallopian tube), 3 in stage II, 7 in stage III and two were a metastatic lesion. Only 30.4% of 46 patients had increased levels of CA 125. Conclusions: Although consensus about the benefits of transvaginal ultrasound as a screening procedure is not unanimous, our data suggest that tumors detected in patients screened with transvaginal ultrasound are in earlier stages. Additional randomized studies are needed to support these preliminary findings.


Samples of nanostructured and ultrafine grained steels with carbon content ranging from 0.05 to 0.55%wt. have been obtained by a warm consolidation process from mechanically milled powders and subsequent heat treatments. In general, homogeneous grain size distributions were obtained except for the low-carbon steel in which a bimodal grain size distribution was observed when it was heat treated at high temperatures. The stress-strain response has been studied by means of compression tests. Nanostructured materials showed high strength but poor results in terms of ductility. In the low-ultrafine range (mean grain size between 100-500 nm) the three materials showed an increase in the ductility with strain softening. Finally, when the average grain size was close to 1 µm samples showed larger ductility and strain hardening.


This paper proposes a vision-based fuzzy 8051 surveillance system which emphasizes on designing the image processing function to detect the invaded states and the 8051 fuzzy servomotors controller to track the invader region. The techniques include discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) image data reducing, edge detection, motion detection, and fuzzy servomotor control. In this paper, image processing techniques are used for invader detection. Using a two-axis camera mount controlled by fuzzy controller, this system could make the camera exactly keeping the invader object on the center of scene. Also, the proposed tracking system has high potential in the guard of security management, the transaction authentication, the residential monitoring.


A palladium-catalyzed Negishi cross-coupling reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate with aryl bromides or aryl triflates to construct C(sp2)-CF2 bonds is described. The reaction was conducted under mild reaction conditions, and no preparation of organozinc reagents is required. This is the first report encompassing the conversion of aryl triflates into products containing C-CF2 bonds. In addition, the construction of C(sp2)-CHF bonds was achieved under mild conditions via a cross-coupling of aryl iodides with ethyl bromofluoroacetate.


Internets has severe problem in security and mobility because it use the only unique source IP address and destination IP address during the process of communication all the time, IP address is overloaded in semantics because it is used to represent both the location and the identity of a user, so a new mechanism should be proposed. Although there are many researchers have done lots of extensive and intensive study work about mobility and security of host, and also given many solutions, but all of them did not resolve the problems perfectly. According to the thought of the namespace improvement solutions that the identity and the position of a user separate mutually, this paper considers the problem from the all new angle and put forward a mobile communication solution based on accessing identifier.


Self-reference effect refers to the accelerated process and better memorization by the individual when the information is involved with self-concept. However, previous studies have focused only on categorical differences, considering self-relevant effects as behavioral or neural activation differences between self-relevant and non-self-relevant stimuli. Thus, they failed to take into account the degree of self-relevance. In real-life situations, different correlations usually lead to various personal meanings, as the process of highly self-relevant stimulus has a more significant physical and social meaning than that of the minimally one. In addition, there are researches showing that self-relevant information is associated with positive emotional valence, that the individual inclines to attribute positive results and traits to personal characteristics and accounts the negative results or traits unrelated with their own personal characteristics. Therefore, investigating the influence of positive emotion on self-reference process is of great value. We adopted picture-priming paradigm, presented emotional pictures and self-reference stimulus with participants. To be specific, each trial was initiated by a cross appearing at the centre of the screen for 200ms followed by a blank screen whose duration varied randomly from 500 ms to 1000 ms. Then a picture from one of the two emotional pictures categories was presented for 500 ms along with black screen lasting randomly for 150~300 ms in sequence. Afterwards, 500 ms self-reference stimulus and 1000 ms black screen emerged. Subjects were instructed to identify the color of self-referential stimulus as fast and accurate as possible. If the color is blue, press the "1" key; if it is green, press the "2" key. Stimulus words would disappear after a keypress or automatically disappear after 1000ms. After the exercise experiment, the formal experiment concluded 360 trials divided into 3 blocks. Results of ERP showed that under positive emotional priming condition, the target stimulus elicited smaller P2 amplitudes than neutral condition, and highly self-relevant stimulus elicited a shorter P2 latency than any other stimulus. Furthermore, highly self-relevant names elicited larger N2 amplitude than moderately and non-self-relevant names, and under neutral priming condition, the target stimulus elicited longer N2 latency than positive emotional priming condition in frontal sites; highly self-relevant stimulus elicited longer N2 latency than any other stimulus conditions in the frontal and parietal sites. In the average amplitude of P3, highly self-relevant names elicited larger P3 amplitude than moderately and non-self-relevant names, and moderately self-relevant names elicited larger P3 amplitude than non-self-relevant names. Our results indicate human brain might not be sensitive on the processing of positive emotional stimulus. Self-referential processing demonstrates stability characteristics no matter whether in positive or neutral condition. Moreover, highly self-referential stimuli receive a more thorough and elaborate procession, with a representation of degree effect of self-referential processing.


It is known that a faster sampling rate allows a controller to react to unmeasurable disturbances faster. Adding feed- forward could decrease the effect of disturbance significantly, but feedback control is still required to cope with modelling errors and unknown disturbances. A variant of model predictive control (MPC), called multiplexed MPC (MMPC), has been proposed recently. The motivation for MMPC was to reduced real-time computational load and hence allow faster sampling on multivariable systems. In this brief, we report the first successful application of MMPC on a semiconductor manufacturing process. MMPC with feedforward has been demonstrated experimentally on a multizone bake plate application. While most of the temperature drop will be compensated by feedforward control, feedback provided by MMPC will cope with the errors due to warped wafers. This result is important for the semiconductor wafer baking process, because temperature nonuniformity will affect critical dimension of the wafer.


Article history: Received on: 18/06/2016 Revised on: 22/07/2016 Accepted on: 19/08/2016 Available online: 26/09/2016 The most commonly used packaging material is associated with environmental issues as they are non degradable in nature. The number of attempts are made for developing the eco-friendly degradable biopolymers as ideal food packaging. The biopolymers developed are not commercialized as they have poor mechanical strength and resistance properties. Thus to enhance the following faults in the reinforcing material are added which resulted in the composites formation. During various food processing operations the nanotechnology approach is employed such as encapsulation of the material in the nanoparticles, which can be delivered to the targeted site, enhancement of the flavor, integration of antibacterial agents with the nanoparticle in the food, enhancement of shelf-life for storage, and contamination sensing. Food packaging substances synthesized by nanotechnology may increase the shelf-life of the food as they provide resistive packaging, increase the level of food safety, liberate the preservatives for enhancing the life of the food and notify the consumer either the food is consumable or spoiled. Nano-supplements are integrated by the encapsulation method for efficient dietary as well as drug delivery systems. Nano-materials are not well evaluated for the health risk and environmental issues associated with it even the side-effects are unexploited. Various authorities are working prompt designing of guidelines and legislation policies for further acceptance of Nano-based materials in food packaging systems. Biologically synthesized nanoparticles will serve as a significant tool to conquer present contests that are linked with food packaging constituents.


Agent technology has been suggested by experts to be a promising approach to fully extend Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS). By using intelligent agents in an ITS architecture it is possible to obtain an individual tutoring system adapted to the needs and characteristics of every student. The general architecture of the ITS proposed is formed by the three components that characterize an ITS – the Student Model, the Domain Model, and the Education Model. In the Student Model the knowledge the system has about the student (profile and interaction with the system) is represented. In the Domain Model the knowledge about the contents to be taught is stored. Precisely, in this model four agents – the Preferences Agent, the Accounting Agent, the Exercises Agent and the Tests Agent have been added. Lastly, the Education Model provides the functionality that the teacher of the system needs. Across this module the teacher changes his preferences, gives reinforcement to the students, obtains statistics and consults the matter.


Apart from its high compressive, tensile and flexural strengths reaching approximately 200MPa, 15MPa and 35MPa, respectively, Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is characterized by its high resistance against degrading factors that can delay their penetration and diffusion speeds down to 1/20 to maximum 1/10,000 compared to ordinary concrete. UHPC also exhibits self-compaction properties with a slump flow of about 220mm. Furthermore, the most remarkable feature of UHPC is the improvement of its flexural strength and toughness through the admixing of steel fiber. Accordingly, this study evaluates the effects of the placement method on the flexural performance of UHPC. As a result, the flexural strength of UHPC appears to be extremely dependent on the placement method with variation of the maximum flexural strength up to 2 to 3 times while poor influence is observed on the initial crack strength.


This study was conducted to determine the optimum ratio of lysine and methionine (Lys:Met) to enhance milk protein concentration in vitro, focusing on the regulation of genes related to the JAK2-STAT5 and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. A preliminary dose response study revealed that casein concentration peaked (2.5-2.7 ppm) at a supplemental Lys concentration of 1.2 mM and Met at 0.5 mM. At the peak casein concentration cell proliferation rate also was higher. Furthermore, the expression of CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, CSN3, LALBA, JAK2, STAT5, and MTOR was upregulated with both Lys and Met compared with the control. A subsequent experiment was conducted as a 5 × 3 factorial design with supplemental Lys plus Met at different ratios. When the supplemental concentration of Lys was 1.2 mM and Met was 0.4 mM (∼3:1), the concentration of casein peaked. Therefore, we measured gene expression, mTOR protein expression, and phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) in cultures incubated with 3:1 Lys:Met (Lys&Met). Expression of CSN1S1 and LALBA were the most highly expressed genes (P < 0.01). The upregulation of CSN2, CSN3, CSN1S2 isoforms (P < 0.01) and JAK2, ELF5, mTOR (P < 0.05) was also observed. Total mTOR protein expression was greater (P < 0.05) with Lys alone and also Lys&Met. However, Lys&Met resulted in the greatest (P < 0.05) p-mTOR. Results suggest that peak concentration of casein at a supplemental 3:1 Lys:Met is driven in part via upregulation of the mRNA expression of components of the JAK-STAT and mTOR pathways.


New exactly solvable rationally-extended radial oscillator and Scarf I potentials are generated by using a constructive supersymmetric quantum mechanical method based on a reparametrization of the corresponding conventional superpotential and on the addition of an extra rational contribution expressed in terms of some polynomial g. The cases where g is linear or quadratic are considered. In the former, the extended potentials are strictly isospectral to the conventional ones with reparametrized couplings and are shape invariant. In the latter, there appears a variety of extended potentials, some with the same characteristics as the previous ones and others with an extra bound state below the conventional potential spectrum. Furthermore, the wavefunctions of the extended potentials are constructed. In the linear case, they contain (ν + 1)th-degree polynomials with ν = 0, 1, 2, . . . , which are shown to be X1-Laguerre or X1-Jacobi exceptional orthogonal polynomials. In the quadratic case, several extensions of these polynomials appear. Among them, two different kinds of (ν + 2)th-degree Laguerre-type polynomials and a single one of (ν+ 2)th-degree Jacobi-type polynomials with ν = 0, 1, 2, . . . are identified. They are candidates for the still unknown X2-Laguerre and X2-Jacobi exceptional orthogonal polynomials, respectively.


Genome-wide association studies have identified chromosome 14q32 as a locus for coronary artery disease in humans. The disease associated variants fall in a gene called Hedgehog interacting protein-like 1 (HHIPL1), which encodes an uncharacterised sequence homolog of a Hedgehog protein antagonist. Here, we present our investigation of HHIPL1 function and its role in atherosclerosis. Epitope tagged HHIPL1 protein is present in the media of HHIPLI transfected cells and immunoprecipitates with GFP tagged Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) protein, demonstrating that HHIPL1 is a secreted interactor of SHH. We measured HHIPL1 gene expression in different cardiovascular cell types and found that it is primarily expressed in aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs). We performed siRNA knock-down of HHIPL1 in AoSMCs and observed a reduction of 32% (+/-11%) in proliferation (p = 0.002 at 72 h) and a reduction of 27% (+/-4%) in migration (p = 0.02 at 12 h). We went on to examine the role of Hhipl1 in atherosclerosis in vivo. In atherosclerotic mouse aortas Hhipl1 expression increased with disease progression (~2-fold increase at 6 weeks vs 32 weeks of age, p = 0.001). We crossed Hhipl1-/- mice onto Apoe-/- and Ldlr-/- atherosclerosis prone backgrounds. Hhipl1-/- mice displayed a reduction of 57% (+/-28%) in lesion area compared with controls on an Ldlr -/- background (en face aorta, n = 10 Hhipl1+/+; Ldlr-/- vs n = 19 Hhipl1-/-; Ldlr-/-, t-test p = 0.00007) and 49% (+/-28%) reduction on an Apoe-/- background (en face aorta, n = 9 Hhipl1+/+; Apoe-/- vs n = 17 Hhipl1-/-; Apoe-/- , t-test p = 0.0004). Our data represent the first experimental investigation of HHIPL1. We find that HHIPL1 is a proatherogenic protein that regulates smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, presumably through its involvement in Hedgehog signalling. Ongoing analysis will further define the mechanisms through which HHIPL1 contributes to atherosclerosis.


The problem of identifying the proteins in a complex mixture using tandem mass spectrometry can be framed as an inference problem on a graph that connects peptides to proteins. Several existing protein identification methods make use of statistical inference methods for graphical models, including expectation maximization, Markov chain Monte Carlo, and full marginalization coupled with approximation heuristics. We show that, for this problem, the majority of the cost of inference usually comes from a few highly connected subgraphs. Furthermore, we evaluate three different statistical inference methods using a common graphical model, and we demonstrate that junction tree inference substantially improves rates of convergence compared to existing methods. The python code used for this paper is available at http://noble.gs.washington.edu/proj/fido.


Abstract Nuclear factor-κB regulates genes that control immune and inflammatory responses and are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including AIDS and cancer. It has been proposed that reactive oxygen intermediates participate in NF-κB activation pathways, and compounds with putative antioxidant activity such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) have been used interchangeably to demonstrate this point. We examined their effects, separately and combined, on different stages of the NF-κB activation pathway, in primary and in transformed T cells. We show that NAC, contrary to its reported role as an NF-κB inhibitor, can actually enhance rather than inhibit IκB degradation and, most importantly, show that in all cases NAC exerts a dominant antagonistic effect on PDTC-mediated NF-κB inhibition. This was observed at the level of IκB degradation, NF-κB DNA binding, and HIV-LTR-driven reporter gene expression. NAC also counteracted growth arrest and apoptosis induced by dithiocarbamates. Antagonistic effects were further observed at the level of jun-NH2-terminal kinase, p38 and ATF-2 activation. Our findings argue against the widely accepted assumption that NAC inhibits all NF-κB activation pathways and shows that two compounds, previously thought to function through a common inhibitory mechanism, can also have antagonistic effects.


A recently developed method to characterize the band gap energies of III-V optosemiconductors was utilized to determine temperature-invariant band gap features of multijunction solar cells. The method is based on measuring electroluminescent spectra of the solar cells at different temperatures. The normalized spectra reveal temperature-invariant energy values of the different junctions which are further converted to band gap energies. The method utilization requires a calibrated spectroradiometer and a temperature controlled mounting base for the solar cell under test, however, no knowledge about the absolute temperature of the cell under measurement. The method was tested on GaAs and GaInP solar cells that consist of single and dual junctions. The band gap energies were also derived from spectral response measurements. The differences of the determined band gap energies from the literature values were smaller than 1.1%. Compared with other band gap determination methods, the developed method yields temperature-invariant band gap characteristics; with a known uncertainty, that separated the different junctions in a multijunction device without individual biasing for the different junctions. In addition, a temperature-independent characterization parameter ensures that the operating conditions of the device under test do not affect the results.


In 2014, an international group of scholars from various fields analysed the "societal dimensions" of synthetic biology in an interdisciplinary summer school. Here we report and discuss the biologists' observations on the general perception of synthetic biology by non-biologists who took part in this event. Most attendees mainly associated synthetic biology with contributions from the best-known public figures of the field, rarely mentioning other scientists. Media extrapolations of those contributions appeared to have created unrealistic expectations and irrelevant fears that were widely disconnected from current research in synthetic biology. Another observation was that when debating developments in synthetic biology, semantics strongly mattered: depending on the terms used to present an application of synthetic biology, Title page


Cognitive style is how people think, based on certain attitudes, perceptions and personality orientations. Cognitive styles are considered as basic elements for successful performance. Cognitive style is thought to predict performance in two ways: by allowing employees to quickly learn job-related knowledge and by processing information resulting in better decision making. But cognitive styles have received much less attention than they deserve, given their importance to employee's functioning. The relationship between cognitive style and performance is not completely understood in scientific research. In this context, the thinking styles and performances of people working in Research and Development (R & D) departments such as other work places are determined by these cognitive styles, and it is important to research this in the era of Industry 4.0.


Terrorism is no doubt a global problem of the 21st century and as evidenced by the continued terror attacks, the menace is causing major global security distress. In Kenya terrorism has among other things considerably affected the Muslim-Christian relations in the country. Despite vast literature on terrorism and interreligious relations, there are limited research on the influence of terrorism on Muslim-Christian relations in Garissa County, Kenya hence this study. The general objective of this study was to examine the influence of terrorism on Muslim-Christian relations in Garissa County, Kenya. The study employed both descriptive and explanatory design. The target population of the study was 199,469 from Garissa County from which a sample of 384 respondents were obtained through purposive sampling. Data was collected from primary sources using; questionnaires, interview guide and focus group discussions as well as secondary sources, through literature review. The findings revealed that, terrorist selective attacks of Christians and the use Islamic concept of jihad during attacks have created suspicion and mistrust among the Muslims and Christians in the area. The study concludes that unless the misunderstanding of the concept of Jihad is demystified, the Muslims-Christians relations will significantly be affected as the terrorist will continue propagating their attacks as an Islamic concept of jihad. The study recommends that Muslim leaders needs to demystify the concept of Jihad in order to restore Muslim-Christian relations. Also, the Government security agencies and civil society, Muslim leaders, and Christians should continually organize awareness campaigns in the region to create alertness about the terrorist's schemes.


Computer technologies have been introduced into schools
since about 1960, with large scale deployment starting in
the 1980s once personal computers became widely available
and affordable. A second wave of deployment saw the
networking of computers, first in the form of classroom
based local-area network (LAN), and more recently the
connection to the Internet. More recent trends include such
developments as the introduction of interactive whiteboards
into classrooms, and the establishment of 1:1 computing
(one digital device per student) in some systems. However,
the major meta-analyses available at this time do not address these more recent developments—one might also add the increasing interest in mobile and cloud computing amongst them-but focus on the classic question: Do students in classes where computers are used profit from this compared to students in classes where no computers are used?
Concerning our question, if technologies make a difference
for education, more than 60 meta-analyses have
appeared since 1980, covering thousands of individual
comparative studies. Most of the meta-analyses have focused
on questions specific to certain types of technologies,
subject matter, or grade level. However, a secondary meta analysis has been published (Tamim, Bernard, Borokhosvski,
Abrami, & Schmid, 2011) that aggregates the data
from 25 meta-analyses. We will use this one to answer the
general question, and use this study and the findings from
recent meta-analyses, most of them not covered in Tamim
et al. (2011), to address more specific questions regarding
the effects on important learning areas (mathematics, reading, writing, language learning). Notably absent from the literature are meta-analyses of technology use for science learning. Although space does not permit us to report on the effectiveness of specific types of educational technology, it is worth mentioning what types are typically included in the label "computer technology". What is covered in these studies are IT applications that can be categorized fairly well into five types (Li & Ma, 2010): (a) tutorials: programs that directly teach by providing information, demonstration, and opportunities for (drill and) practice; (b) communication media, such as e-mail, web-browsers, video conferencing tools that provide access to information and opportunities for communication, including student-to-student communication; (c) exploratory environments, including simulations, hypermedia environments, web quests; (d) tools, in particular productivity tools (word processors, presentations tools), media manipulation software, such as for digital imaging and music, and (data) analysis tools, such as spreadsheet programs; (e) programming languages, ranging from general purpose ones (e.g., Java, Prolog) to those with a didactic function (e.g., Logo). It is important to keep this variety of meanings of ICT in mind when looking at the field through the lens of meta-analyses.


[Purpose] This study compared differences between groups to determine instructional factors for beginners, by focusing on the pelvic movement in the straight right punching motion. [Subjects] The two groups were those with experience (n=5,27.3±4.5 years old) and without experience (n=7,22.3±1.2 years old) of boxing. [Methods] We measured three straight right punching motions using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, and derived the pelvic rotation angle, pelvic angular velocity, and rotation time. Based on the maximum pelvic rotation angle, the results were divided into acceleration and restoration periods. Using the average values of each measurement in both periods we investigated, the significance of difference between the experienced and inexperienced groups. [Results] In both groups, a significant difference was found in the maximum pelvic rotation angle and the maximum pelvic angular velocity in the two periods, as well as the average pelvic rotation time in the restoration period. [Conclusion] When coaching beginners in boxing, the results suggest that there is a need to instruct carefully about going back to the original stance immediately.


We propose the use of a light-weight setup consisting of a collocated camera and light source – commonly found on mobile devices – to reconstruct surface normals and spatially-varying BRDFs of near-planar material samples. A collocated setup provides only a 1-D "univariate" sampling of a 3-D isotropic BRDF. We show that a univariate sampling is sufficient to estimate parameters of commonly used analytical BRDF models. Subsequently, we use a dictionary-based reflectance prior to derive a robust technique for per-pixel normal and BRDF estimation. We demonstrate real-world shape and capture, and its application to material editing and classification, using real data acquired using a mobile phone.


Purpose
This paper aims to provide a typology of perceived risk in the context of consumer brand resistance and thus answers the following question: how do consumers perceive the risk they take when resisting brands?

Design/methodology/approach
Two qualitative methods were used. In-depth interviews were carried out with 15 consumers who resist brands. An ethnography was carried out for ten months in an international pro-environmental NGO.

Findings
This multiple qualitative method design led to the identification of four types of risks taken by consumers. The four categories of perceived risks identified are performance (lack of suitable alternatives for the brand), social issues (stigma and exclusion), legal reasons (legal proceedings) or physical considerations (violation of physical integrity). These risks are located along a continuum of resistance intensity. Resistance intensity levels are avoidance, offline word-of-mouth, online word-of-mouth, boycott, activism and finally extreme acts.

Originality/value
This study provides a framework that integrates perceived risks within the context of brand resistance. The paper highlights extreme acts of resistance and questions the limits of such behaviors.