The Wadden Sea is the world's largest intertidal ecosystem and provides vital food resources for a large number of migratory bird and fish species during seasonal stopovers. Previous work using bulk stable isotope analysis of carbon found that microphytobenthos was the dominant resource use fueling the food web with particulate organic matter making up the remainder. However, this work was unable to account for the trophic structure of the food web or the considerable increase in δ15N values of bulk tissue throughout the benthic food web occurring in the Eastern regions of the Dutch Wadden Sea. Here, we combine compound specific and bulk analytical stable isotope techniques to further resolve the trophic structure and resource use throughout the benthic food web in the Wadden Sea. Analysis of δ15N for trophic and source amino acids allowed for better identification of trophic relationships due to the integration of underlying variation in the nitrogen resources supporting the food web. Baseline integrated trophic position estimates using glutamic acid (Glu) and phenylalanine (Phe) allow for disentanglement of baseline variations in underlying δ15N sources supporting the ecosystem and trophic shifts resulting from changes in ecological relationships. Through this application we further confirmed dominant ecosystem support by microphytobenthos derived resources, although to a lesser extent than previously estimated. In addition to phytoplankton derived particulate organic matter and microphytobenthos supported from nutrients from the overlying water column there appears to be an additional resource supporting the benthic community. From the stable isotope mixing models, a subset of species appears to focus on microphytobenthos supported off recycled (porewater) N and/or detrital organic matter mainly driven by increased phenylalanine δ15N values. This additional resource within microphytobenthos may play a role in subsidizing the exceptional benthic productivity observed within the Wadden Sea ecosystem and reflect division in microphytobenthos support along green (herbivory) and brown (recycled/detrital) food web pathways.


Okra pods were widely consumed by Indonesians to maintain health. The aim of this study was at investigating the potential of crude polysaccharides from okra pods on immune response in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Thirty male Balb/C mice were divided into six groups: normal control, negative control, and treatment groups (administration of crude polysaccharides at doses of 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg). Crude polysaccharides were administrated for fourteen days. Furthermore, mice were exposed to S. aureus at the fifteenth day. Two weeks after the end of treatment, the parameters were measured. This study showed that crude polysaccharides at a dose of 75 and 100 mg/kg improved phagocytic activity, spleen index, and splenocytes proliferation. Rising of TNF-α levels was shown in groups treated with crude polysaccharides at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. All treatment groups showed a decreasing level of IL-17. Crude okra polysaccharides also showed a slight increase in NK cells activity and IFN-γ level. Thus, crude okra polysaccharides could act as an effective material to enhance immune response including phagocytic activity, spleen index, splenocytes proliferation, and control immune responses through cytokine production.


Landscape architect Warren H. Manning (1860-1938) created an important practice that bridged the period between the popularity of ornamental horticulture and the rise of Modernism in the United States. He absorbed and transformed the experience of his apprenticeship with Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. to bring new expressions to the practice of landscape architecture in the twentieth century. Manning's office, like Olmsted's, became an apprenticeship setting for many significant practitioners of the twentieth century. His career was expansive in geographical and professional scope. Among the products of his diverse practice that this article focuses on are Manning's interests in larger-scale resource-based planning and design methodologies that culminated in the National Plan of 1919, and Progressive Era-inspired attempts to develop community participation that culminated in several important city planning efforts. By establishing these foci the article also seeks to enlarge the historiographic context for research into the development of landscape architecture during the period. This historiographic context suggests emerging scientific, political, social, and other non-formalistic trends that begin to explain the specific disciplinary and professional character of landscape architecture in the early twentieth century, and hence illuminate the specific character of Modernism in landscape architecture as distinct from other arts.


With the advantages including the high interaction, convenience, transparency and individualization, the Internet makes the online shopping become increasingly popular among businesses and consumers. The online transaction environment is characterized by virtuality and anonymity, so the trust plays an indispensable role. Currently the trust issue has become one of the main reasons that troubles and hinders the online shopping behavior of consumers. In this paper, the trusted third party (TTP) in Australia's business is studied and the factors influencing consumers' trust behavior are examined from the perspective of consumers online trust of online shopping. Based on the literature review and combined with the development status and background of Australia's e-commerce, underpinned by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Institutional Theory and Signaling Theory, an integrative service framework of TTP is proposed and empirically tested in this paper. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling was conducted to assess the hypotheses. This study proposes that an integrative service framework of TTP should include the following five aspects: payment service, logistics & distribution service, guarantee & insurance service, certification service, and rating & recommendation service. The empirical results, obtained in a sample of 282 online shopping users, indicate that the above-mentioned five different types of TTPs, which have combined effect on the trust motivation and behavior of consumers. Through building an integrative service framework of TTP, the level of consumer trust can be more fully strengthened. When consumers think that more services from TTP are owned by an enterprise, they have smaller barrier in their expected future trust and stronger control of their own trust behavior, and finally enhance the consumers' trust behavior.


Smartphones suffer from limited computational capabilities and battery life. A method to mitigate these problems is code offloading: executing application code on a remote server. We introduce COARA, a middleware platform for code offloading on Android that uses aspect-oriented programming (AOP) with AspectJ. AOP allows COARA to intercept code for offloading without a customized compiler or modification of the operating system. COARA requires minimal changes to application source code, and does not require the application developer to be aware of AOP. Since state transfer to the server is often a bottleneck that hinders performance, COARA uses AOP to intercept the transmission of large objects from the client and replaces them with object proxies. The server can begin execution of the offloaded application code, regardless of whether all required objects been transferred to the server. We run COARA with Android applications from the Google Play store on a Nexus 4 running unmodified Android 4.3 to prove that our platform improves performance and reduces energy consumption. Our approach yields speedups of 24x and 6x over WiFi and 3G respectively.


By virtue of abundant sodium resources and low cost, sodium-ion batteries have been considered as a promising candidate compared with the prevailing lithium-ion batteries. However, substantial volume changes and sluggish sodiation kinetics limit their practical application. Here, we designed and prepared a hybrid architecture of oriented tin(II) sulfide nanoflakes bound on S-doped N-rich carbon nanosheets (SnS/CNS) via a facile sol–gel and hydrothermal route. The functional carbon nanosheets not only strengthen the interaction with SnS, but also enhance the conductivity and pseudocapacitance of the composite. This unique SnS/CNS anode delivers a high reversible capacity of 654 mA h g−1 and excellent rate capabilities of 487 and 250.7 mA h g−1 at current densities of 1 and 20 A g−1, respectively. Further kinetic analyses reveal that the pseudocapacitive contribution accounts for fast Na+ storage at high rates.


BACKGROUND
Globally, gastroenteritis is recognized as an important contributor to mortality among children, but population-based data on gastroenteritis deaths among adults and the contributions of specific pathogens are limited. We aimed to describe trends in gastroenteritis deaths across all ages in the United States and specifically estimate the contributions of Clostridium difficile and norovirus.

METHODS
Gastroenteritis-associated deaths in the United States during 1999-2007 were identified from the National Center for Health Statistics multiple-cause-of-death mortality data. All deaths in which the underlying cause or any of the contributing causes listed gastroenteritis were included. Time-series regression models were used to identify cause-unspecified gastroenteritis deaths that were probably due to specific causes; seasonality of model residuals was analyzed to estimate norovirus-associated deaths.

RESULTS
Gastroenteritis mortality averaged 39/1000000 person-years (11 255 deaths per year) during the study period, increasing from 25/1 000 000 person-years in 1999-2000 to 57/1 000 000 person-years in 2006-2007 (P < .001). Adults aged ≥ 65 years accounted for 83% of gastroenteritis deaths (258/1 000 000 person-years). C. difficile mortality increased 5-fold from 10/1 000 000 person-years in 1999-2000 to 48/1 000 000 person-years in 2006-2007 (P < .001). Norovirus contributed to an estimated 797 deaths annually (3/1 000 000 person-years), with surges by up to 50% during epidemic seasons associated with emergent viral strains.

CONCLUSIONS
Gastroenteritis-associated mortality has more than doubled during the past decade, primarily affecting the elderly. C. difficile is the main contributor to gastroenteritis-associated deaths, largely accounting for the increasing trend, and norovirus is probably the second leading infectious cause. These findings can help guide appropriate clinical management strategies and vaccine development.


This thesis is a study of large sets of unit vectors in Cn such that the absolute value of their standard inner products takes on only a small number of values.
We begin with bounds: what is the maximal size of a set of lines with only a given set of angles? We rederive a series of upper bounds originally due to Delsarte, Goethals and Seidel, but in a novel way using only zonal polynomials and linear algebra. In the process we get some new results about complex t-designs and also some new characterizations of tightness.
Next we consider constructions. We describe some generic constructions using linear codes and Cayley graphs, and then move to two specific instances of the problem: mutually unbiased bases and equiangular lines. Both cases are motivated by problems in quantum computing, although they have applications in digital communications as well.
Mutually unbiased bases are collections of orthonormal bases with a constant angle between vectors from different bases. We construct some maximal sets in prime-power dimensions, originally due to Calderbank, Cameron, Kantor and Seidel, but again in a novel way using relative difference sets or distance-regular antipodal covers. We also detail their numerous relations to other combinatorial objects, including symplectic spreads, orthogonal decompositions of Lie algebras, and spin models. Peripherally, we discuss mutually unbiased bases in small dimensions that are not prime powers and in real vector spaces.
Equiangular lines are collections of vectors with only one angle between them. We use difference sets from finite geometry to construct equiangular lines: these sets do not have maximal size, but they are maximal with respect to having all entries of the same absolute value. We also include some negative results about constructions of maximal sets in large dimensions.


Overview
Ever watched a YouTube video to solve a software problem? For example, 'How do I set up Presenter View in PowerPoint? Well, you are watching a screen recording, also known as screencasting and video screen capture. This is a video recording with audio narration; not to be confused with screenshot/capture, which is a still photo. For educators, screen recording is ideal for: recording your presentations in a controlled environment, recording feedback on student work with real teacher presence, explaining course and LMS navigation, explaining and annotating images such as digital microscopy, radiology, graphics, as well as recording a digital whiteboard for hand drawn mathematics equations or diagrams.

Outcomes
At the end of this 90 min mini workshop you will have created and shared your first screen recorded video, and will be able to do it again.

Major features to be investigated
Structured into 6 steps, discussion and demonstration of pros and cons of

Hardware – laptop/desktop vs mobile device
Software – free vs paid
Microphone – inbuilt vs USB
Recording technique – record/pause segments
Upload -video hosting
Share - links

Session organisation

5 tables. 4 participants per table. Maximum 20 participants.
Mac users grouped together, and Windows users grouped together

Time (mins)

Activity

Content

10

Icebreaker

Table group introductions, share experience with screen recording and intended uses, table group discussion and whole group Post-it notes .

10

Demonstration

Introduction and use cases.
Downloading software.

15

Pair programming

Participants access free software.
Windows users: Screencast-o-matic or Zoom
Mac users: QuickTime

10

Demonstration and printed set up sheet

Settings for video, webcam, audio. Recording tips and techniques.

15

Individuals or pairs

Set up software, and microphone. Open one of your previous PowerPoint presentations or other resource, make a 2 sec recording of desktop screen.

5

Break

10

Demonstration

Save, upload, share

15

Pairs

Participants create a 1 min video, save and upload, share link by email with partner. Self critique and partner feedback using a structured framework.

5

Discussion

Revisit how you might use screen recording in your teaching. Table group discussion and Post-it notes.

5

Evaluation Survey

QR code to online survey on phone
Resource links.

Resources for distribution
We will be using free software, either inbuilt or accessed online. One page printed step by step guide.

Expectations and requirements of participants
You need to bring your own laptop to participate, or pair with someone who has. Although screen recording is possible on a tablet or phone, you will have to install different Apps.


Abstract Sexual selection via female choice is assumed to be common in darters despite few studies demonstrating the phenomenon. This study examines the breeding behaviors of the rainbow darter, Etheostoma caeruleum, and addresses the following four questions: Do females exhibit mating preferences? Which behavioral variables are good measures of female mating preferences? Which male behaviors are used in the context of mating? How do female choice and male competition affect mating success? In dichotomous choice tests, where females could choose between males from two different populations, females performed a precopulatory behavior (nosedigs) significantly more often in front of males from Prairieville Creek than they did in front of males from Seven Mile Creek. However, no pattern of choice was detected when preference was measured as the amount of time spent associated with each male. When the animals were allowed to interact freely, males competed aggressively over the female by chasing and attacking each other. Group spawns occurred where two males mated simultaneously with the female. Male spawning success was positively correlated with male guarding ability (the ability to prevent a competing male from coming between himself and the female). However, there were no significant correlations between overt aggression (chases and attacks) and male spawning success or between female preference (measured in dichotomous choice tests) and male spawning success. Male interactions, in the form of guarding, appear to play a larger role in determining male mating success than does female choice.


The effect of acceptor concentration in (Mg)-doped BaTiO3 on the resistance degradation behavior was contrasted between coarse- and fine-grain samples with ∼90 and ∼0.8 μm in size, respectively. Both cases showed similar trends that the time to degradation decreased systematically with the increase of acceptor concentration, however the absolute rates are very different for a given dopant concentration. Although the grain size and grain boundaries are important, it is also shown through an impedance analysis that the degradation behavior depends on the grain conductivity (σg) and ionic transference number (tion) as evaluated by the Warburg impedance. Under the condition of the same nominal acceptor concentration, fine-grain samples showed much lower grain conductivity (σg) but little differences in the grain boundary conductivity (σgb) than that of coarse-grain samples. The ionic transference number (tion) was also much smaller in fine-grain samples. These results show that the actual effective acceptor concentration on being ionically compensated to enhance oxygen vacancies becomes smaller with the decrease of grain size. This fact coupled to the increase of the number of grain boundaries accounts for the improved degradation behavior with the decrease of grain size.


Various components of air have been separated for different purposes for their easy availability in the atmosphere. Among those components Nitrogen separation process is very important in chemical engineering sector since it has wide usage in different processes. There are various technologies that are used for the separation of nitrogen. Among those most common is via LINDE-HAMPSON cycle. This paper presents analysis of thermodynamic cycle commonly used for liquefaction of Nitrogen (N2) under given set of operating condition and efficiencies. The liquefying temperature of Nitrogen being -200 o C is taken into consideration. This paper also presents the simulation of this process HYSYS for the separation of N2 from air. Simulation result gives the value of product nitrogen purity of 91.75%.


Objectives: It is well demonstrated that there is a higher prevalence of hypertension (HT) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) than non-DM individuals as well as higher prevalence of DM in HT than normotensives (NT). However, it has not been clarified which of DM or HT leads to other, and what mechanisms may play a major role.

Methods: In the present study, we compared neurohormonal parameters in the following 4 groups in weight loss (WL) program with a mild calorie restriction and exercise over 12 weeks; 53 obese NT without DM, 44 NT with T2DM, 68 HT without DM, and 43 HT with T2DM. HT and T2DM were all diagnosed in the last 3 months and none had medications. At entry period, the 4 groups were strictly matched in BMI and in BP. They were measured BMI, total body fat-mass, waist/hip ratio (W/H), BP, PR, HbA1c, fasting glucose, insulin (HOMA-IR), norepinephrine (NE) and leptin (LEP) at entry, 4 and 12 weeks.

Results: At entry, fat-mass was greater in subjects with T2DM than non-DM in both NT and HT and HT had slightly greater fat-mass than NT, although BMI were strictly matched in the 4 study groups. HbA1c in T2DM was greater than non-DM, and slightly greater in HT than NT. Fasting insulin was greater in HT and T2DM than NT or non-DM, and HOMA-IR was slightly greater in HT than NT and significantly greater in T2DM than non-DM. LEP was similar between NT and HT, but it was greater in T2DM than non-DM. (HbA1c, HT with T2DM>NT with T2DM>>HT without DM>NT without DM; Insulin, HT with T2DM>NT with T2DM>>HT without DM>NT without DM; NE, HT with T2DM>>HT without DM≥NT with T2DM>>NT without DM; LEP, HT with T2DM≈NT with T2DM>>HT without DM>NT without DM). WL over 12 wks in HT and T2DM were smaller than those in NT or non-DM. At 12 weeks, in HT groups regardless of T2DM, percent (%) decreases in plasma NE and BP, and reductions in HbA1c were smaller than those in NT groups, although reductions in fat-mass and leptin were similar. In T2DM groups regardless of BP levels at entry, reductions in BMI, BP, HbA1c, HOMA-IR and NE were smaller than those in non-DM group. In the 4 groups, reductions in plasma NE was observed at first followed by reductions in HOMA-IR, HbA1c, BMI and BP over 12 weeks.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that insulin resistance (IR) may play an important role on the onset of T2DM and high plasma NE appears to cause HT. HT had resistance to normalized high plasma NE and %reductions in NE, and T2DM had resistance to normalize IR and sympathetic overactivity. We previously reported that high plasma NE could predict future weight gain and BP elevation, and high NE preceded IR in non-obese subjects. Taken together, sympathetic overactivity observed in high NE may cause obesity and HT, and then IR seems to start with weight gain leading T2DM, suggesting that HT may lead to T2DM with this mechanisms.


Focal lesions can affect connectivity between distal brain regions (connectional diaschisis) and impact the graph‐theoretic properties of major brain networks (connectomic diaschisis). Given its unique anatomy and diverse range of functions, the hippocampus has been claimed to be a critical "hub" in brain networks. We investigated the effects of hippocampal lesions on structural and functional connectivity in six patients with amnesia, using a range of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyses. Neuropsychological assessment revealed marked episodic memory impairment and generally intact performance across other cognitive domains. The hippocampus was the only brain structure exhibiting reduced grey‐matter volume that was consistent across patients, and the fornix was the only major white‐matter tract to show altered structural connectivity according to both diffusion metrics. Nonetheless, functional MRI revealed both increases and decreases in functional connectivity. Analysis at the level of regions within the default‐mode network revealed reduced functional connectivity, including between nonhippocampal regions (connectional diaschisis). Analysis at the level of functional networks revealed reduced connectivity between thalamic and precuneus networks, but increased connectivity between the default‐mode network and frontal executive network. The overall functional connectome showed evidence of increased functional segregation in patients (connectomic diaschisis). Together, these results point to dynamic reorganization following hippocampal lesions, with both decreased and increased functional connectivity involving limbic‐diencephalic structures and larger‐scale networks. © 2016 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


This project employs 2008 National Election Study (NES) data to explore whether parents are different than nonparents in terms of their political attitudes and candidate evaluations. We find that parenthood does have political consequences although often not in ways suggested by conventional wisdom. Rather than finding parents to be a conservative group, our results support the idea that raising children has liberalizing effects on the attitudes of women. Fatherhood shapes attitudes less than motherhood, but these fewer effects are in a conservative direction. We argue that the distinctive politics of mothers and fathers reflects the impact of parenting as a gendered socialization experience combined with the contrasting parenthood themes articulated by the Republican and Democratic parties. Finally, despite media coverage suggesting Sarah Palin's "Hockey Mom" image would attract parents, especially mothers, to her candidacy and the Republican ticket we find no support for this idea.


Purpose: This study seeks to explore scientific fundamentals in tax collection. This approach is based on philosophical aspects which justify the state to collect taxes as collections that can be forced in the sense of having legal authority. Approach/Methodology/Design: The benefit approach in withdrawing taxation is the philosophical basis for tax collection in Indonesia based on the benefit approach. Findings: The benefit approach is based on the philosophy that the state creates benefits which can be enjoyed by all citizens who reside in the state. In Indonesia the taxation is based on Pancasila containing the nature of kinship and cooperation. Mutual cooperation is such a joint venture carried out without being rewarded aimed at the public interest. Based on Pancasila, tax collection can be justified because the tax payment is intended for the interests and the welfare of the people. Practical Implications: This benefit approach bases a philosophy that because the state creates benefits that can be enjoyed by all citizens who live in the country, the state has the authority to collect taxes from the people even in a forced way. Originality/value: This study conceptually combines taxation theories and their functions in state finance in a theoretical context of the benefit approach on the basis of kinship and mutualism inherent in Pancasila as justification for the use of taxes for the greatest prosperity of the people.


The electronic structure of gas-phase methanol molecules (H3COH, H3COD, and D3COD) at atmospheric pressure was investigated using resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering (RIXS) at the O K and C K edges. We observe strong changes of the relative emission intensities of all valence orbitals as a function of excitation energy, which can be related to the symmetries of the involved orbitals causing an angularly anisotropic RIXS intensity. Furthermore, all observed emission lines are subject to strong spectator shifts of up to -0.9 eV at the O K edge and up to -0.3 eV at the C K edge. At the lowest O K resonance, we find clear evidence for dissociation of the methanol molecule on the time scale of the RIXS process, which is illustrated by comparing X-ray emission spectra of regular and deuterated methanol.


Introduction Patients with a positive faecal occult blood test in the BCSP are invited to undergo an alternative radiological colonic investigation if deemed unsuitable for colonoscopy. CTC, a radiological modality of choice at St Mark's, is less invasive than optical colonoscopy but there are conflicting data regarding relative patient experience. Approximately two thirds of patients having colonoscopy in our centre are sedated with a combination of midazolam and pethidine compared to CTC, which is an unsedated procedure. The aim of this study was to compare patient experience of those undergoing CTC vs colonoscopy within the BCSP. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our local screening centre's database from September 2008 to November 2009 to determine the number of patients who had undergone CTC within the BCSP and had also completed and returned a standard 30-day questionnaire (routinely sent to all patients following their secondary examination within the BCSP). The questionnaire includes four domains assessing experience before, during and after the procedure and also overall level of satisfaction. Completed questionnaires were then compared to an equal number of age and sex matched consecutive patients who had undergone optical colonoscopy during the same time period. Fisher's exact test was used to compare responses. Results 21 (10 male, mean age 67 years, SD 4.7) of 83 patients undergoing CTC completed and returned a questionnaire (response rate of 25%), which is significantly lower than colonoscopy response rate of 72% (756 of 1057 patients) (p<0.0001) for the similar time period. There was no significant difference between patient groups with respect to pre-procedure experience or overall satisfaction. However, CTC patients reported more discomfort than expected (8/21 vs 0/21, p=0.003) and only 4/21 (20%) had no or less discomfort than expected compared to colonoscopy (13/21, 62%, p=0.003). CTC patients were also more often discharged without knowing the result of the procedure (10/21 vs 2/21, p<0.001) and were less likely contacted by screening practioners afterwards (13/21, 68% vs 20/21, 95%, p=0.04). Conclusion Discomfort during CTC is higher than patients expected and post examination communication is inferior, also reflected by lower questionnaire response rates. While colonoscopy sedation and use of a questionnaire designed for colonoscopy may be confounders, the authors conclude that centres should re-examine the quantity and quality of patient information provided for CTC by screening practitioners. We also recommend a larger prospective multicentre study to compare experience, using a more detailed and less "technique specific" questionnaire.


Ostensibly unprecedented pieces of architecture, the Seed Cathedral in the Shanghai World Expo and Isfahan's Pigeon Towers in Iran, are two instances where celebrating nature has been formally manifested. In addition to their immediate functions – the former is an exhibition space and the latter a facility which collects birds' droppings as natural fertilizer – they have transcendental intentions: through the formal glorification of the natural, both projects connote the perpetual and timeless interdependencies between the human and nature. By comparing these two buildings, the paper will demonstrate how the same desire has been resurrected into distinct architectural types across time and place. Beyond their similar ecological intentions, the tectonic logic rooted in the agglomeration of an irreducible unit – the dimension of which is based on the bodily proportions of the organism it accommodates – allows these two artifacts to relate in an intricate way. By focusing on the ecological and sustainable features of the Pigeon Towers, the paper will reiterate architecture's capacity to operate simultaneously in two extreme domains: overlaying the maximum efficiency and the aesthetic perfection. To substantiate the analogy, the paper utilizes Synonymity in Architecture as an operative theory of design to reveal the identical underpinning formation of the two projects. It explains how two ostensibly


The adoption of mobile phones by the poor has been an unexpected phenomenon that is having a remarkable impact on social and economic development. The significance of mobile adoption is now beginning to be understood by scholars and policy makers; the emergence of m-banking/mpayments systems has implications for the more general set of discussions around the role of mobile telephony in the developing world. This paper offers a survey of recent literature on access gaps that focuses on pro-poor market solutions provided by mobile applications. The emerging literature on mobile uses in developing countries has focused on the benefits of voice and text messaging. However, there is little academic research on mobile applications such as m-banking. While a large number of low income people have access to mobile phones; these groups are excluded from the financial market. M-banking offers the opportunity to diminish this financial exclusion by offering access to credit and to savings which are key tools capable of transforming the livelihoods of the poor and the efficiency of the market. Accessibility is the major barrier for the expansion of mobile adoption by the poor. There is an important role for regulators to play in enabling an appropriate environment for the increase in the mobile penetration as well as business models for m-banking.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009, there were 5,148 drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes. This number is a 37 percent decrease from the 8,224 drivers in that age group involved in fatal crashes in 2000. The decline in the number of teenagers involved in fatal crashes shows a promising trend, as young drivers make up nearly 15 percent of the total population in the United States. State lawmakers continue to enact laws related to teen driving safety.


: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelop-mental disorders. The pathophysiology is thought to involve noradrenaline and dopamine. The role of dopamine transporter (DAT) was evaluated in imaging studies using mostly dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Atomoxetine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. Here we report the results of a pilot study conducted to evaluate changes in striatal DAT after 8 weeks of atomoxetine treatment. Our results suggest that 8 weeks of atomoxetine treatment may change striatal DAT bioavailability as measured via SPECT but that change was not correlated with genotype or clinical improvement.


Electrical tracking is a formation process of a permanent conducting path across the insulating material due to surface erosion under high voltage stress. The existing of leakage current (LC) on the wet contaminated material surface causes the generation of surface discharges that resulted in the material degradation. The effects of electric field distribution and current density on LLDPE-Natural Rubber blends material were investigated using finite element method (FEM) analysis. In this paper, a variety of physical parameters particularly contaminant flow rate, various applied voltages, material properties of permittivity and conductivity were studied when nanofiller is added to LLDPE-Natural rubber blend. The simulation works using FEM software of Quickfield was applied to the tracking test condition of IEC 60587 standard.  The results show that the electric field distributions are critical on the edges of contaminant solution path at higher voltage level. The current density and electric field distribution is increase with higher applied voltage. The polymer nanocomposite with 1-5 % of nanofiller exhibits a good resistance to tracking and erosion test.


Crystallographic and biochemical studies have been employed to identify the binding site and mechanism for potentiation of imidazoline binding in human monoamine oxidase B (MAO B). 2-(2-Benzofuranyl)-2-imidazoline (2-BFI) inhibits recombinant human MAO B with a Ki of 8.3 ± 0.6 μm, whereas tranylcypromine-inhibited MAO B binds 2-BFI with a Kd of 9 ± 2 nm, representing an increase in binding energy Δ(ΔG) of −3.9 kcal/mol. Crystal structures show the imidazoline ligand bound in a site that is distinct from the substrate-binding cavity. Contributions to account for the increase in binding affinity upon tranylcypromine inhibition include a conformational change in the side chain of Gln206 and a "closed conformation" of the side chain of Ile199, forming a hydrophobic "sandwich" with the side chain of Ile316 on each face of the benzofuran ring of 2-BFI. Data with the I199A mutant of human MAO B and failure to observe a similar binding potentiation with rat MAO B, where Ile316 is replaced with a Val residue, support an allosteric mechanism where the increased binding affinity of 2-BFI results from a cooperative increase in H-bond strength through formation of a more hydrophobic milieu. These insights should prove valuable in the design of high affinity and specific reversible MAO B inhibitors.


Recruitment of benthic marine invertebrates varies greatly at different spatio-temporal scales. For instance, population dynamics of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides at Uruguay exhibit large temporal fluctuations, mainly associated with recruitment. We used data from an 8 yr long-term study to develop an age-structured model to show that density-dependent and density- independent forces acting together can jointly explain the population fluctuations in a sandy-beach bivalve population of the yellow clam Mesodesma mactroides. The pure density-dependent deter- ministic model parameterised with empirical values estimated during the 8 yr study predicted stable dynamics. The dynamics of the deterministic skeleton was markedly influenced by the addition of a relatively small amount of stochastic variability to fertility rates. The yellow clam population dyna- mics seem to be driven by the combined forces of density-dependent and density-independent fac- tors operating together. A combination of (uncorrelated) stochasticity in reproductive rates and asym- metric intercohort interactions (density-dependent recruitment and density-dependent survival rates) seems to be the key process generating large variability in recruitment.


Contaminated soils present a major global health problem especially in urban areas with dense population. The common contaminants of soil are heavy metals. Research investigating the risk assessment procedures adopted in different EU member states, suggests that there needs to be greater standardization in the methods of assessing risks from contaminated soils. For risk-assessment studies and follow-up remediation projects is necessary to perform numerous analyses to determine the concentration of metal contaminants. To minimize the need for laboratory analysis of soil samples, the XRF - technology can be used for screening the metal contamination in soil, with significant advantages. This method provided significant accuracy and well documented to support field decision making with reduced overall costs. The new generation of portable XRF instruments is equipped with miniatures X-ray tubes in order to reduce the regulatory demands encountered with radioactive isotopes.The goal of this experiment was to complete the data obtained in the preliminary tests, by observing the correlation between XRF results and laboratory analysis data in heavy metal determination. Soil samples were collected from an old metallurgical industrial area, situated in the vicinity of Bucharest, Romania. The X-ray tube based sources offer a faster analytical time because the X-ray flux can be higher than most isotope based sources. They can also be used over a wider range of excitation energies, eliminating the need for multiple isotope sources to produce X-ray over the entire excitation spectrum. The collected samples were XRF measured, then dried in air, XRF measured, sieved through the 2 mm sieve to remove non-soil particles and XRF measured again. The samples were homogenized and passed through the 200 microns sieve and XRF measured. After XRF determination, these fine samples were laboratory analized (XRF analysis being nondestructive). The XRF results are presented comparatively with laboratory analysis data. From these results is evident that the soil particle size have no important influence upon the XRF data, an important factor appears to be the metal concentration in soil. The results confirm the influence of metal concentration in soil upon the XRF data, smaller is metal concentration in soil sample, higher are the difference between XRF and laboratory analysis results. In all samples laboratory results are many times smaller than XRF data, in chromium and cobalt determination. Best correlation was obtained in lead and manganese determination.


Background: Despite being a relatively smaller state, Haryana's per capita Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is high. The statistical data on the status of women has a different story to share. Objective: This study analyzes the maternal healthcare situation in Haryana to examine the differential in utilization of maternal health care service i.e. antenatal care on the basis of socio economic and socio demographic indicators such as Women's age at Birth, Birth order, Education, Residence, Religion, Wealth index and Caste. Methodology: The present study uses the third round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data which is similar to the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). DHS collects, disseminates national data on health and population in developing countries. Findings: Indicate that economic status, husband's education and caste have effect on the utilization of antenatal care services. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates several socio economic and demographic factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care services in Haryana. Efforts need to be taken at community and household level to improve utilization. Abbreviations: NFHS- National Family Health Survey; DHS- Demographic and Health Surveys; MDG- Millennium Development Goals; SC/ST-Scheduled caste/Scheduled tribe; WHO-World Health Organization; MOHFW- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; ANM – Auxiliary Nurse Midwife; VIF – Variance Inflation Factor; OBC- Other Backward Classes; ANC- Antenatal Care; TBA – Trained Birth Attendant


We give an explicit formula for all tree amplitudes in N = 4 SYM, derived by solving the recently presented supersymmetric tree-level recursion relations. The result is given in a compact, manifestly supersymmetric form and we show how to extract from it all possible component amplitudes for an arbitrary number of external particles and any arrangement of external particles and helicities. We focus particularly on extracting gluon amplitudes which are valid for any gauge theory. The formula for all tree-level amplitudes is given in terms of nested sums of dual superconformal invariants and it therefore manifestly respects both conventional and dual superconformal symmetry. Laboratoire d'Annecy-le-Vieux de Physique Théorique, UMR 5108


Farmers' participation in the maintenance and operation of water facilities has a positive impact on their attitude and internal trends and incentives to have closer cooperation with Regional Water Organization. The transfer of irrigation management to farmers enhances the productivity of water facilities and ultimately, results in efficient water use in agriculture. In order to evaluate the effect of participation and transfer of irrigation management to farmers, four hypotheses have been proposed. The study was an applied research according to the goal and was a descriptive survey as data collection method. Judgmental sampling was used to take samples from the population. A researcher-made questionnaire was employed for data collection. It was conducted among 120 people in Guilan Regional Water Organization engaged in agricultural sections. The questionnaire's validity was confirmed by content validity and its total reliability was estimated by Cronbach's alpha as to be 0.86 using SPSS software. The effects of participation on farmers' commitment, cooperation, and satisfaction and the legitimacy of Regional Water Organization of Guilan province were evaluated at 0.01 level, and no evidence was found to reject the hypotheses.


Poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) is a high-performance thermoplastic engineering polymer, which exhibits outstanding properties such as electrical insulation, dimensional and thermal stability, chemical resistance, etc. In addition to this, PPS has a high degree of crystallinity and it exhibits good physical properties at elevated temperatures. Owing to these properties, PPS is widely used in electrical and electronic components, automobile industry and mechanical applications. These outstanding properties of PPS can be attributed to its chemical structure, composed of phenyl groups linked by a sulfur atom, which gives rigidity to the chain. On the other hand, the brittleness with low elongation strain, toughness and crack propagation resistance also restricts its further applications. Several methods are used to overcome these undesirable properties of PPS. Blending of PPS with other polymers is one of these methods. In this study, Ethylene-Acrylic Ester-Glycidyl Methacrylate terpolymer (Lotader®-AX8900) was used to improve the toughness and crack propagation resistance properties of PPS. For this purpose, PPS/Lotader (0, 2, 5, 10 wt.% Lotader) blends were prepared at various compositions. The blends were manufactured using laboratory scale twin screw extruder and injection molding machine. Mechanical properties of blends were investigated by using tensile test method. In addition to this, crack propagation and toughness of samples were investigated by using essential work of fracture (EWF) method. As a result of this study, it was found that Lotader addition significantly increases the toughness and crack propagation resistance of PPS.


The qualitative measurement is a common practice in infrastructure condition inspection when using Infrared Thermography (IRT), as it can effectively locate the defected area non-destructively and non-contact. However, a quantitative evaluation becomes more significant because it can help decision makers figure out specific compensation plans to deal with defects. In this work, an IRT-based novel damage index, damage density, was proposed to quantify the significance of subsurface defects. This index is extracted from IR images using our thermography analytics framework. The proposed framework includes thermal image processing, defect edge detection, and thermal gradient map calculations. A modified root mean square error (mRMSE), which is a novel modification to the existing RMSE, was compared to evaluate the performance of image processing methods. The results show that the histogram equalization performs better than the other methods in the image processing part as the mRMSE is the lowest among them. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the developed index and the volume of subsurface defects is 0.94, which indicates a positive linear relationship between them. Thus, the proposed damage index can be used to guide the engineering practices and maintenance decisions for the subsurface determination in the civil infrastructure.


Objectives: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLH) in resource-limited settings have high and often unrecognized prevalence of mood disorders, with adverse implications for medication adherence and engagement in transmission risk reduction behaviors. Working in HIV treatment and care provision, we observed lack of common understandings between PLH and health care workers (HW) of the words msongo and sonona (Swahili) intended to mean stress and depression, respectively. This gap in psychosocial health communication may result in missed opportunities for depression management, which can contribute to altered immune functioning, poor self-care practices, accelerated HIV disease progression, and poor clinical outcomes among PLH. We explored perceptions and experiences in use of the terms msongo and sonona among PLH, to better inform the management of mood disorders among PLH Methods: A two-phased study which included exploratory mixed methods study including focus group discussions (FGDs), indepth interviews (IDIs) with PLH and HW, and a cross-sectional pilot survey with PLH in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was conducted from 2012 to 2013. Only the data for phase I was included in this manuscript. Thematic analysis of qualitative data from 86 participants explored PLH and HW experiences with the use of terms msongo and sonona . From these findings, we developed scale items based on PLH's descriptive idioms for a structured survey questionnaire administered to 318 PLH. Through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) we identified meaningful dimensions for the msongo and sonona scales Results: Predominant meanings for PLH with mood disorder of the terms included troubling thoughts, emotional and physical symptoms. There were gender and age differences in meanings given to both words. For older PLH, msongo and sonona had similar meanings; the former representing higher severity of sonona . In contrast, younger women perceived sonona as a worse form of msongo , while for some young men sonona was understood as kisonono (gonorrhea). Among PLH with mood disorder, 60% and 80% requested help from a health worker for managing sonona and msongo , respectively. PLH without a mood disorder articulated msongo as normal thoughts not requiring hospital treatment; while sonona was a new word, the meaning of which they did not know. This group reported they did not seek care from a health worker for these concerns. The HW interchanged meanings and symptoms of msongo and sonona , while some thought sonona was a type of psychosis. PCA of the data from PLH revealed five dimensions for the combined sonona and msongo scale, with Cronbach's alpha estimates of 0.92, a unidimensional msongo scale with Cronbach's alpha estimates of 0.77 and four dimensions for the sonona scale with Cronbach's alpha estimates of 0.90 Conclusions: Though PLH overall had a limited understanding of the psychological health implications of msongo and sonona , those with mood disorders understood these words as meaning stress and depression, respectively. HW should raise their awareness and be alerted to possibilities of depressive disorders when PLH express concerns about msongo or sonona or have symptoms in order to facilitate the identification and management of depression in such settings Keywords: HIV, PLH, msongo , sonona , depression, stress scale, Swahili, Tanzania


The sensorless control schemes based on machine saliency detection by signal injection commonly adopt a position observer to estimate the motor position. The position observer usually employs proportional-integral-derivative- (PID-) type controllers and low-pass-filters (LPFs) whose parameters need to be properly tuned to achieve satisfactory, or at least stable, performances. Generally, the position observers are tuned with trial and error procedures that require commissioning time and control design experience. This paper deals with the observer modelling and tuning. In particular, the observer model is used for a model-based position control tuning and the effectiveness of the proposed procedure is confirmed by the good agreement of theoretical and experimental results. The experimental test have been realized using both a linear tubular permanent magnet motor (LTPM) and a rotating internal permanent magnet motor (IPM) to demonstrate that the motor control performances can be predicted only if the observer behaviour is considered.


Purpose: The study aimed to compare the effects of balance training on balance confidence and its relationship with social participation among clients with stroke. Method: A pre- and post- experimental group design was used. Stroke survivors who met the inclusion criteria were consecutively assigned to two groups (task-oriented and biofeedback). Participants in the task-oriented group received task-oriented activities for 20 minutes and the biofeedback group received intervention in correckta (equipment used for balance training) for 20 minutes, along with conventional occupational therapy - 5 sessions per week, for 12 weeks. Balance Confidence Scale was used for measuring balance confidence, and Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) was used to measure social participation. Statistical calculations were performed with SPSS version 16.0 package. Statistical tests were carried out with the level of significance set at p≤ 0.05. Results: The findings suggest that both the biofeedback and task-oriented groups showed significant improvement in balance confidence and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. There was a moderate to good relationship between balance confidence and social participation. Conclusions and Implications: There is evidence that many stroke survivors have low balance confidence. Therapists should assess the balance confidence of their clients and encourage them to participate in these beneficial interventions.


The basic principle of binaural sound reproduction technique is to reconstruct the same sound pressures at a listener's eardrums that would have caused there by a real sound source to be simulated. Consequently, the listener cannot distinguish between the real sound source and the generated virtual sound source. If a pair of loudspeakers is used, the appropriate ear signals are delivered to the listener by inverting the transmission paths between the two loudspeakers and the two ears. This process, known as "crosstalk cancellation", can be considered as an inversion of a [2 × 2] matrix of transfer functions. Previous work undertaken in this area was concentrated on the use of a conventional stereo set-up where the loudspeakers span an angle of 60° as seen from the listener. As opposed to a stereo set-up, by using two closely spaced loudspeakers, the performance had proven more robust with respect to misalignment or movement of the listener's head. However, one disadvantage of this approach is the source strengths required for the crosstalk cancellation at low frequencies. In terms of matrix algebra, the crosstalk cancellation problem is said to be "ill-conditioned" at these frequencies. Based on a free-field model of the problem, it can be shown that ill-conditioning depends on frequency and the loudspeaker span of the system, respectively. For instance, for a smaller span the system inversion is ill-conditioned at low frequencies, whereas for larger source spans the conditioning is worse at higher frequencies. This connection resulted in the idea to vary the source span as a function of frequency in order to maintain the best possible conditioning over the whole frequency range. A practical solution of this new approach is to use multiple pairs of loudspeakers for each frequency range with corresponding source spans in order to eventually cover the whole audible frequency range. This diploma thesis will discuss the potential for such an approach. Theory, practical implementation, and testing of such systems will be described in detail. Many sound localisation experiments were conducted in order to subjectively validate the system's performance. Results show a significant improvement, in particular with respect to azimuth localisation for virtual images well to the sides.


The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a sense of community could be enhanced via learning activities delivered through a Facebook group within a self-paced distance-learning course. A closed Facebook group was created for a voluntary English as a foreign language course. Four types of learning activities were delivered via the Facebook group including both syn-chronous and asynchronous structured activities, and synchronous and asyn-chronous unstructured activities. The study was designed as convergent mixed-method study. Quantitative data were gathered from a total of 179 students by using the Classroom Community Scale; quantitative data were concurrently gathered from 17 students via semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that the sense of community among learners was found to be high, however, the type of learning activities had no effect on building a sense of community. The study was intended to guide teachers, instructors, administrators and practitioners interested in designing and delivering self-paced open and distance learning courses.


The study examines the impact of the introduction of 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV10) into Bangladesh's national vaccine program. PCV10 is administered to children under 1 year-old; the scheduled ages of administration are at 6, 10, and 18 weeks. The study is conducted in ~770,000 population containing ~90,000 <5 children in Sylhet, Bangladesh and has five objectives: 1) To collect data on community-based pre-PCV incidence rates of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in 0-59 month-old children in Sylhet, Bangladesh; 2) To evaluate the effectiveness of PCV10 introduction on Vaccine Type (VT) IPD in 3-59 month-old children using an incident case-control study design. Secondary aims include measuring the effects of PCV10 introduction on all IPD in 3-59 month-old children using case-control study design, and quantifying the emergence of Non Vaccine Type IPD; 3) To evaluate the effectiveness of PCV10 introduction on chest radiograph-confirmed pneumonia in children 3-35 months old using incident case-control study design. We will estimate the incidence trend of clinical and radiologically-confirmed pneumonia in 3-35 month-old children in the study area before and after introduction of PCV10; 4) To determine the feasibility and utility of lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia in a large sample of children in a resource-limited setting. We will also evaluate the effectiveness of PCV10 introduction on ultrasound-confirmed pneumonia in 3-35 month-old children using an incident case-control design and to examine the incidence trend of ultrasound-confirmed pneumonia in 3-35 month-old children in the study area before and after PCV10 introduction; and 5) To determine the direct and indirect effects of vaccination status on nasopharyngeal colonization on VT pneumococci among children with pneumonia . This paper presents the methodology. The study will allow us to conduct a comprehensive and robust assessment of the impact of national introduction of PCV10 on pneumococcal disease in Bangladesh.


Site characterization on geologic and soil conditions was performed for evaluating the site effects relating to the site-specific seismic response characteristics at a small urbanized area, Hongseong, in Korea, where structural damages were recorded by an earthquake of magnitude 5.0 on October 7, 1978. In the field, various geotechnical site investigations composed of borehole drillings and seismic tests for determining shear wave velocity (VS) profile were carried out at 16 sites. Based on the geotechnical data from site investigation and additional collection in and near Hongseong, an expert information system on geotechnical information was implemented with the spatial framework of GIS for regional geotechnical characterization across the entire study area. For practical application of the GIS-based geotechnical information system to estimate the site effects causing seismic hazards for the Hongseong area, spatial seismic zoning maps on geotechnical parameters, such as the bedrock depth and the site period, were created at the area of interest. Furthermore, seismic zonation of site classification according to the mean VS to a depth of 30 m from ground surface was also performed for seismic design at any location in the area of interest. From the spatial geotechnical information and seismic zonations, the capability of seismic amplification was examined at plain and hill locations in Hongseong.


BACKGROUND
Increased temporal and frontal slow-wave delta (1-4 Hz) and theta (4-7 Hz) activities are the most consistent resting-state neural abnormalities reported in schizophrenia. The frontal lobe is associated with negative symptoms and cognitive abilities such as attention, with negative symptoms and impaired attention associated with poor functional capacity.

AIMS
To establish whether frontal dysfunction, as indexed by slowing, would be associated with functional impairments.

METHOD
Eyes-closed magnetoencephalography data were collected in 41 participants with schizophrenia and 37 healthy controls, and frequency-domain source imaging localised delta and theta activity.

RESULTS
Elevated delta and theta activity in right frontal and right temporoparietal regions was observed in the schizophrenia v.

CONTROL GROUP
In schizophrenia, right-frontal delta activity was uniquely associated with negative but not positive symptoms. In the full sample, increased right-frontal delta activity predicted poorer attention and functional capacity.

CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that treatment-associated decreases in slow-wave activity could be accompanied by improved functional outcome and thus better prognosis.


ABSTRACT During a perceptual task, the presentation of a visual stimulus is known to automatically activate a spatially congruent manual response, which influences the speed of the motor response provided depending on the non-spatial stimulus feature (e.g., colour). Such effect was found to depend on the congruency between either the (1) right–left stimulus location and lateralized manual response (Simon effect), or (2) near–far stimulus location and manual response amplitude (Amplitude Congruency effect). In the present study, we conjointly manipulated Simon and Amplitude Congruency effects in a stimulus colour discrimination task. It was found that stimulus location potentiated concurrent but independent Simon and Amplitude Congruency effects: the more the to-be-executed response was congruent with the response activated by these effects, the faster was its execution. Moreover, our results suggest that the magnitude of Amplitude Congruency effect on response latency and execution time reflects the temporal characteristics of the motor response planning.


This article studies the link between corporate governance conflicts on the one hand, and employment and wage policies of companies on the other. We use data on publicly traded Russian companies with dual class stock (common and preferred shares), which allows us to use the concept of voting premium for measurement of corporate conflicts and private benefits of control. Our analysis suggests a link between the severity of corporate governance problems between shareholders and managers and the company's wage policies. In particular, managers who try to consume private benefits and expropriate shareholders, have to resort to more generous policies regarding workers' wages. Importantly, this link is apparent only in companies with relatively dispersed ownership, in which managers have considerable discretion and are not constrained by obligations before large shareholders. In contrast, the link between extraction of private benefits of control and wage policies is not visible in companies with a majority shareholder.


Coatings with outstanding chemical and physical properties can be obtained from two‐pack formulations without stoving. The epoxy resin was cured with different amine‐based compounds, such as polyamide (PA), the aniline copolymer of triethanolamine titanate and aniline formaldehyde. The thermal resistance properties of the cured films were analysed using the thermo‐gravimetric method. This study also examined the effect of coating resistance of 3 per cent sodium chloride solution by means of electrochemical impedance measurements. Coatings that included the epoxy triethanolamine titanate showed superior behaviour, compared to the other two systems tested. This hardener can be recommended instead of using conventional PA and polyamidoamide hardeners for epoxy two‐pack systems that are to be used to protect the steel structures from highly corrosive chemical and marine environments.


The (quasi-) maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for the autoregressive parameter in a spatial autoregressive model cannot in general be written explicitly in terms of the data. The only known properties of the estimator have hitherto been its first-order asymptotic properties (Lee, 2004, Econometrica), derived under specific assumptions on the evolution of the spatial weights matrix involved. In this paper we show that the exact cumulative distribution function of the estimator can, under mild assumptions, be written down explicitly. A number of immediate consequences of the main result are discussed, and several examples of theoretical and practical interest are analysed in detail. The examples are of interest in their own right, but also serve to illustrate some unexpected features of the distribution of the MLE. In particular, we show that the distribution of the MLE may not be supported on the entire parameter space, and may be nonanalytic at some points in its support. Supplementary material relating to this working paper can be viewed here


DOUBLING NATO: FUNCTIONAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ENLARGEMENT OF THE ALLIANCE Erdogan Kurt Old Dominion University, 2010 Director: Dr. Regina Karp This dissertation studies NATO expansion as institutional adaptation. More specifically, it examines the interaction between NATO's functional and geographical enlargement. This study asserts that there is a close relationship between NATO's new functions and its enlargement. Over time, NATO evolved from a collective defence alliance to a comprehensive security organization. As NATO undertook new functions, its capabilities no longer matched the requirements of the new functions. The geographical enlargement, in fact, constitutes a vehicle for the fulfilment of the capability shortfall. Furthermore, this dissertation asserts that the new security environment will force NATO to focus on the regions at a strategic distance. More specifically, the Black Sea corridor will be the next area for NATO engagement. New functions such as energy security may bring new members from the wider Black Sea region into the club. The case studies offer a detailed analysis of NATO's post Cold War functional and geographical enlargement. The second case study also highlights the fact that there is no an automatic geographical enlargement as a result of new NATO functions. The timing of dissertation coincides with a significant transformation in NATO's structure and core tasks. 2010 will be the year of a NEW NATO with a new peace establishment and strategic concept. NATO will still be a relevant Euro-Atlantic organization with a global area of responsibility in the twenty-first century security environment for as long as it continues to protect the vital interests of its members.


Background Accurate analysis of radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been challenging because most evaluations use change in Sharp score either between only 2 time points or between multiple time points but only at 1 assessment, limiting the accuracy and statistical power of treatment comparisons. Objectives To use a data integration approach to evaluate longitudinal radiographic data obtained from long-term trials of adalimumab (ADA) in RA patients (pts). Methods Data are from 2 phase 3, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled trials of ADA: PREMIER was a 2-year (yr) trial conducted in MTX-naïve pts with early RA,1 with an ongoing 8-yr open-label (OL) extension; DE019 was a 1-yr trial of pts with long-standing RA and an inadequate response to MTX,2 with a completed 9-yr OL extension. This post hoc analysis evaluated available radiographic data from the original PBO+MTX and ADA 40 mg every other week+MTX arms through 8 and 10 yrs of treatment in PREMIER and DE019, respectively. Radiographic progression was assessed using the modified total Sharp score (mTSS) as change (Δ) from baseline (BL). Radiographs were assessed at Yrs 2, 3, 5, and 8 (PREMIER) and Yrs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 10 (DE019). At each assessment yr, radiographs from BL and select prior yrs were re-read. A mixed effect model was used to evaluate the repeated measurements at different time points and different assessments in the integrated data analysis. ΔmTSS at each post-BL time point was estimated by least square mean, and hence, annualized change was calculated. Results Radiographic data from 452 (PREMIER: 215, PBO+MTX; 237, ADA+MTX) and 327 (DE019: 162, PBO+MTX; 165, ADA+MTX) pts with BL and at least 1 post-BL radiograph were available through up to 8 and 10 years of therapy, respectively. Pts completing up to 8 yrs of therapy in PREMIER experienced an estimate of ΔmTSS of 11.1 (PBO+MTX) and 3.9 (ADA+MTX) units; pts in DE019 experienced an estimate of ΔmTSS of 6.6 (PBO+MTX) and 0.9 (ADA+MTX) units through up to 10 yrs of treatment. Radiographic progression was most apparent in those pts receiving PBO+MTX during the randomized portions, but annual progression rates slowed dramatically upon switch to OL ADA±MTX therapy in both trials (Figure). Interestingly, pts initially treated with ADA+MTX maintained low levels of annual progression in both long-term studies, experiencing an estimated change of approximately 0.5 units or less throughout. Conclusions A longitudinal, data integration analysis factoring in all available time points enabled a robust estimate of radiographic progression, and, in the present examples, confirmed and extended the radiographic superiority of initial combination therapy with ADA+MTX. Disclosure of Interest D. van der Heijde Consultant for: Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Centocor, Chugai, Merck, Novartis, Otsuka, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Schering-Plough, UCB, Wyeth, R. Landewé Grant/Research support from: Abbott, Amgen, Centocor, Pfizer/Wyeth, UCB, BMS, Consultant for: Abbott, Amgen, Centocor, Pfizer/Wyeth, UCB, BMS, Speakers Bureau: Abbott, Amgen, Centocor, Pfizer/Wyeth, UCB, BMS, E. Keystone Grant/Research support from: Abbott, AstraZeneca, Biotest, BMS, Centocor, Genentech, Merck, Nycomed, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Consultant for: Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BMS, Centocor, Genzyme, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, F. Breedveld Consultant for: Centocor, Schering-Plough, Amgen/Wyeth, Abbott, S. Liu Shareholder of: Abbott, Employee of: Abbott, N. Mozaffarian Shareholder of: Abbott, Employee of: Abbott


Freak or rogue waves are so called because of their unexpectedly large size relative to the population of smaller waves in which they occur. The 25.6 m high Draupner wave, observed in a sea state with a significant wave height of 12 m, was one of the first confirmed field measurements of a freak wave. The physical mechanisms that give rise to freak waves such as the Draupner wave are still contentious. Through physical experiments carried out in a circular wave tank, we attempt to recreate the freak wave measured at the Draupner platform and gain an understanding of the directional conditions capable of supporting such a large and steep wave. Herein, we recreate the full scaled crest amplitude and profile of the Draupner wave, including bound set-up. We find that the onset and type of wave breaking play a significant role and differ significantly for crossing and non-crossing waves. Crucially, breaking becomes less crest-amplitude limiting for sufficiently large crossing angles and involves the formation of near-vertical jets. In our experiments, we were only able to reproduce the scaled crest and total wave height of the wave measured at the Draupner platform for conditions where two wave systems cross at a large angle.


This study reveals the contribution of gut bacteria to Alzheimer's disease. The gut-brain axis is bidirectional, and gut microbiota influence brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β/asparagine endopeptidase (C/EBPβ/AEP) signaling spatiotemporally mediates AD pathologies in the brain via cleaving both β-amyloid precursor protein and Tau. We show that gut dysbiosis occurs in 5xFAD mice, and is associated with escalation of the C/EBPβ/AEP pathway in the gut with age. Unlike that of aged wild-type mice, the microbiota of aged 3xTg mice accelerate AD pathology in young 3xTg mice, accompanied by active C/EBPβ/AEP signaling in the brain. Antibiotic treatment diminishes this signaling and attenuates amyloidogenic processes in 5xFAD, improving cognitive functions. The prebiotic R13 inhibits this pathway and suppresses amyloid aggregates in the gut. R13-induced Lactobacillus salivarius antagonizes the C/EBPβ/AEP axis, mitigating gut leakage and oxidative stress. Our findings support the hypothesis that C/EBPβ/AEP signaling is activated by gut dysbiosis, implicated in AD pathologies in the gut.


Abstract Background Homeopathy is a complementary medicine characterized by the use of diluted and potentized medicines. Innovations in this area are constantly being proposed in the relevant literature, such as scientific articles and patents. The objective of this study was to carry out a patent survey of homeopathic products and processes. Methods A free and international patent database, Espacenet, was used. The search was carried out using the keyword homeop*, with two approaches: (1) no date restrictions for the search and (2) a date limit for the publication years 2008 to 2018. The patents from the limited period were organized as depositor countries, ownerships and groups, including homeopathic formulations, equipment, packaging, production procedures, and analytical methods. Results Without date restriction, 601 patents were identified in the survey. Of these, 174 were related to homeopathy and published in the period 2008 to 2018. Technologies come mainly from the following countries: United States (55 patents), Russia (24), Germany (15), France (13), India (12), Ukraine (11), Brazil (6), and China (6). Among the ownerships, 69% of patent applications were by independent depositors, 23% by companies, 7.5% by universities, and 0.5% by company/university partnerships. New formulations represented 75.9% of technologies, whilst the others comprised 14.3% for equipment, 3.8% for drugs packaging, 3.8% for production procedures, and 2.2% for analytical methods. Conclusions The present review helps visualize the homeopathy-related patents published in recent years, as well as the main countries and researchers investing in the field of homeopathy.


Transcription of the mouse alpha-fetoprotein gene is activated in the developing fetal liver and gut and repressed in both tissues shortly after birth. With germline transformation in mice, a cis-acting element was identified upstream of the transcription initiation site of the alpha-fetoprotein gene that was responsible for repression of the gene in adult liver. This negative element acts as a repressor in a position-dependent manner.


Existing investigations of strategies in soccer using notational analysis have traditionally focused upon nomothetic analysis of international competitions such as World or European Championships (i.e., Luhtanen et al., 2001; Yamanaka, et al., 2001). To enhance the applied benefit of notational analysis idiographic assessment of teams, strategies are required to establish meaningful normative profiles (Hughes et al., 2001). A need also exists to examine individual player behaviours to determine potential influences upon team strategies. The aim of the current study was to assess the strategies of a team in both domestic and European competition over a competitive season. Matches of a British professional soccer team were analysed using a computerised behavioural measurement package with regard to frequency and duration of possession in designated areas of the soccer field. European matches were characterised by more play in pre-defensive areas at the expense of pre-offensive areas compared to domestic matches. Attacking play was found to occur more frequently down the right hand side of the pitch in domestic compared to Europe. Variability was also observed between ball possession and passing difficulty made by individual players in each pitch area. The findings suggest that differences in tactical strategies are evident at both individual and team levels as a function of the nature of the competition. Individual roles therefore appear to be dictated by playing position, team tactics and game circumstances.


We report a case of the
debilitating and lifelong complex post traumatic stress disorder. Data on
rape/defilement-related complex post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is rare
due to low reporting rates and misdiagnosis in Kenya. Childhood complex PTSD is
compounded by its symptomatic overlap with rape trauma syndrome (RTS) and
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This case demonstrated the
difficulties involved in making the correct diagnosis while at the same time it
brought to the fore clearly the features of complex PTSD as opposed to ordinary
PTSD. Strengths in management
depended on making appropriate diagnosis based on concerted efforts by
clinicians, comprehensive care, team work, sensitivity to age and sex, winning
trust of the child and the care taker among others and bearing in mind the
in-ward handling of the trauma by the rape/defilement victims. This case shared
a lot with other cases of complex PTSD in its presentation, course of illness,
diagnosis and response to management protocol instituted yielding positive
results. Using the lessons learnt from this case, her response was satisfactory
based on her improved social and occupational functioning. The patient
continues to respond well to treatment to date, bearing in mind that her
presentation and age within a dysfunctional family background did not offer
good prognosis, especially if the management and social support system will not
be steadfast and innovative.


A novel nanoelectronic device is constructed by graphyne that is robustly connected between graphene electrodes, where graphyne is composed of hexagonal carbon rings and carbon chains. Owing to similarities between the bond lengths and unit cell shapes of graphene and graphyne, they have perfectly matched interfacial structure at periodic locations, enabling the facilitated charge transfer and heterostructural stability. Using a combined nonequilibrium Green's function and density functional theory formalism, we have systematically investigated the electron transport properties of graphene-graphyne-graphene field effect transistors (FETs) by varying the graphyne size and the carbon chain length. These devices exhibit excellent switching behaviors with ON/OFF ratios on the order of 10^2-10^3. The ON/OFF ratio increases as either of the graphyne size or the carbon chain length increases. Noticeably, these devices sustain good FET features even at the small graphyne size of 8.5 A, yielding ON/OFF ratio of 650 and transmission energy gap of 0.8 eV, which suggests their potential applications for fabricating highly-integrated circuits at the level comparable to molecular devices. Their boron-nitrides analogues show similar qualitative behaviors for the changes of the graphyne size and bias voltage, but they show higher ON/OFF ratios for the smaller chain length in contrast to graphyne TFTs.


Poor reproducibility in scoring antibody‐mediated rejection (ABMR) using the Banff criteria might limit the use of histology in clinical trials. We evaluated the reproducibility of Banff scoring of 67 biopsies by six renal pathologists at three institutions. Agreement by any two pathologists was poor: 44.8–65.7% for glomerulitis, 44.8–67.2% for peritubular capillaritis, and 53.7–80.6% for chronic glomerulopathy (cg). All pathologists agreed on cg0 (n = 20) and cg3 (n = 9) cases, however, many disagreed on scores of cg1 or cg2. The range for the incidence of composite diagnoses by individual pathologists was: 16.4–22.4% for no ABMR; 17.9–47.8% for active ABMR; and 35.8–59.7% for chronic, active antibody‐mediated rejection (cABMR). A "majority rules" approach was then tested in which the scores of three pathologists were used to reach an agreement. This increased consensus both for individual scores (ex. 67.2–77.6% for cg) and for composite diagnoses (ex. 74.6–86.6% cABMR). Modeling using these results showed that differences in individual scoring could affect the outcome assessment in a mock study of cABMR. We conclude that the Banff schema has high variability and a majority rules approach could be used to adjudicate differences between pathologists and reduce variability in scoring in clinical trials.


In this work an intelligent maximum power point tracking based on fuzzy logic technique for a standalone hybrid generation power system with power management is presented, this system comprising a double fed induction generator branch (DFIG) based wind turbine and photovoltaic generator branch compared to the conventional perturbation and observation (P & O) and the incremental conductance algorithms respectively. The fuzzy logic controller is designed to vary the duty-cycle of the DC-DC converter automatically such that to maintain the load voltage constant. MPPT provides a high precision in current transition and keeps the voltage without any changes. Also, a power management strategy that enhances the hybrid system performance by introducing battery charging and discharging limit control, load priority setting and secondary load control had is presented. The proposed scheme ensures optimal use of the photovoltaic (PV) array and DFIG wind proves its efficacy in variable load conditions, unity and lagging power factor at the inverter output (load) side. A dynamic and steady-state mathematical model and simulations for the entire scheme is presented. The model is implemented in the MATLAB/Simulink platform.


A BSTRACT: Ledebouria Roth is a complex genus and it shows a wide range of chromosome counts. Present paper reports chromosome number 2n (6X) = 90 in L. revoluta (L.f.) Jessop a number that is not known so far in the entire genus Ledebouria which exhibits highly asymmetrical (2C) karyotype. The karyotype symmetry of the chromosomes and extreme level of polyploidy indicates that the L. revoluta is actively evolving in varied climatic and geographical regions.


To investigate the inhibition effect of oxymatrine induces human lung cancer A549 cells apoptosis. The A549 cells were cultured for 24 h, than the various concentration of oxymatrine (2 mmol/L, 4 mmol/L, 8 mmol/L, 15 mmol/L) were added into different experimental group cells, and 5-fluorouracil were added into the positive control group cells for 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h respectively. The A549 cells inhibition rate, apoptosis, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were examined by MTT method, Annexin V/PI double staining method, real-time quantitative PCR and western blot, respectively. At same time, the morphological changes of A549 cells were observed with an inverted microscope. In the range of 2 mmol/L~15 mmol/L, oxymatrine had obvious inhibition effects on the proliferation of A549 cells. Compared with the negative control group, it has significantly different (P<0.01). There was remarkably the time- and dose-dependent correlation. After A549 cells were treated with 8 mmol/L oxymatrine for 24 h, the morphological change of cell apoptosis was observed and the extent of apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the expression of Bcl-2 was reduced and the expression of Bax was increased remarkably (P<0.05). Oxymatrine has significant inhibition effects on the cells proliferation and the effects showed time-dependent and dose-dependent. Oxymatrine can induce apoptosis of the A549 cells by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.


Male Wistar rats were administered with 0.1% N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethyl nitrosamine (EHEN)-containing diet for 2 weeks, and were then Rept for further 23 weeks on basal diet. At 25 weeks, the rats were divided into three groups. Group I was fed on basal diet to 40 weeks. Group II was fed on 2% cholestyramine-containing diet to 40 weeks. Group III was fed on 0.02% compactin-containing diet to 40 weeks. At 40 weeks after the start of experiment, the rats were sacrificed and examined histologically for the incidence of renal cell tumors (RCT) and dysplastic foci (DF) of the kidney. The serum levels of total cholesterol at 40 weeks were 108.9 +/- 23.4, 78.8 +/- 12.5, 95.6 +/- 43.4 mg/dl in Groups I, II and III, respectively. The levels were significantly lower in Groups II and III (p less than 0.01, 0.05, respectively, Wilcoxon test) than Group I. The average numbers of DF were 4.5 +/- 4.1, 1.3 +/- 0.3, 2.3 +/- 2.0 per cm2 of kidney slices in Groups I, II and III, respectively. DF were significantly less in Group II than Group I (p less than 0.025, Wilcoxon test), and less in Group III than Group I (not statistically significant). There was no statistical difference between Groups II and III. RCT were observed in 9 of 34 kidneys (26%), 2 of 18 (11%), 1 of 20 (5%) in Groups, I, II and III, respectively. The ratios of kidneys with RCT were lower in Group II than Group I (not statistically significant), and lower in Group III than Group I (p less than 0.05, qui-square test). There was no statistical difference between Groups II and III. RCT were classified into gross and microscopic lesions. Four gross RCT were found in 4 rats of Group I; no gross RCT was in Groups II and III. There were 5 microscopic RCT in 5 rats, 3 in 2, 1 in 1 in Groups I, II and III, respectively. In Group I, serum levels of total cholesterol were compared between the following subgroups; the rats with RCT and/or with more than 10 DF per kidney, and the rats without RCT and with less than 10 DF per kidney. The mean level was 120.8 +/- 21.8 mg/dl in the former subgroup, which was significantly higher than that (94.1 +/- 19.6 mg/dl) in the latter subgroup (p less than 0.025, Wilcoxon test). The serum cholesterol was suggested to act as a promoter in the development of DF and RCT.


INTRODUCTION: Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs) are the main etiology of infertility in congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The aim of this study is to determine the patients diagnosed with TART and to evaluate the risk factors associated with the development of the disease. METHODS: Clinical characteristics of 31 patients with CAH including 19 male, and 12 female patients who were followed up in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed regarding the presence of TART. Differences between clinical and laboratory findings of patients with and without TART were examined. Six male patients with TART were included in the study. Clinical characteristics such as pubertal stage, treatment doses, laboratory findings were evaluated. Changes in size of TARTs were examined with ultrasound follow-ups at six month- intervals. RESULTS: The prevalence of TARTs was 31.5 % (6/19 male). Precocious puberty was higher in patients with TART than without TART. The mean age of the patients was 9.1±2.4 (range: 5.2-12.4) years at the time of diagnosis with TART. Five patients with TART were inadequately controlled. Four patients had a history of precocious puberty. Tumor progression was detected in 4 of 6 patients. In three patients with tumor progression, serum 17-hydroxy progesterone (17-OHP) values increased during follow-up, probably due to non-compliance with treatment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Scrotal ultrasound monitoring should be performed in all male patients with CAH in early childhood irrespective of disease control.


Abstract Sorghum is an important food crop in the world that exhibits a predominant role in fulfilling the nutritional requirements, particularly in low‐income group populations of marginal areas in Kenya. It is a principal source of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and crude fibers (CFs), which are important nutrients necessary for human development and health. Reduced tannin in sorghum grains is desirable since it affects the availability of nutrients. This study aimed at assessing the nutrient content in filial generation one (F1) developed between Gadam (sorghum), which is low in tannin and hard coat tannin (sorghum) cultivars. The nutrient content analyses were carried out from samples collected in a completely randomized design experiment. Crude protein (CP) and tannin content were analyzed using the modified Kjeldahl method and vanillin‐HCl methanol method, respectively, whereas moisture, fat, CF, ash, and carbohydrate contents were determined using Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using R statistical software. Among the F1s, Kari/Mtama‐1 x Gadam recorded the highest CP value of 10.390%. This differed significantly from Gadam x Kari/Mtama‐1 which recorded CP content of 9.770%. Kari/Mtama‐1 x Gadam recorded the highest fat and moisture contents of 2.299% and 8.600%, respectively. The highest CF content of 3.433% was recorded in Gadam x Serena. Gadam x Kari/Mtama‐1 recorded the highest ash content of 1.619%, whereas the highest carbohydrate (84.503%) and tannin content (0.771 mg/g) means were recorded in Seredo x Gadam. Results demonstrated that the choice of maternal and paternal parent influence CP, CF, and carbohydrate contents. Among the F1s, tannin content ranged from 0.106 to 0.771 mg/g compared to 0.953 to 1.763 mg/g recorded in Serena and Seredo (hard coat seeded cultivars). This is an indication that tannin can be downregulated through hybridization.


The cobalt-substituted polyoxotungstate [(CoPW11O39)5-] has been used as a catalyst in olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation reactions. The epoxidation of olefins by iodosylbenzene in CH3CN yielded epoxides predominantly with trace amounts of allylic oxidation products. cis-Stilbene was streoselectively oxidized to cis-stilbene oxide with small amounts of trans-stilbene oxide and benzaldehyde formation. The epoxidation of carbamazepine (CBZ) by potassium monopersulfate in aqueous solution gave the corresponding CBZ 10,11-oxide product. Other transition metal-substituted polyoxotungstates (M=Mn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+) were inactive in the CBZ epoxidation reaction. The cobalt-substituted polyoxotungstate also catalyzed the oxidation of alkanes with m-chloroperbenzoic acid to give the corresponding alcohols and ketones. The presence of CH2Br2 in the hydroxylation of cyclohexane afforded the formation of bromocyclohexane, suggesting the participation of cyclohexyl radical. In the 18O-labeled water experiment, there was no incorporation of 18O into the cyclohexanol product when the hydroxylation of cyclohexane by MCPBA was carried out in the presence of H218O. Some mechanistic aspects are discussed as well.


This paper discusses burr formation in micromilling of AISI 304 stainless steel. Chip load, cutting speed and the application of coolant were chosen as the milling parameters. Experiments were conducted using 500 µm diameter tungsten carbide end milling tool. Milling parameters and measured burr height values were analyzed and statistical models were developed for the estimation of burr height. The models showed that the chip load and cutting speed both have direct and interactive contribution to burr formation. When micromachining without coolant, the burr height increases about 40% compared to that of machining with coolant. The optimized values of chip load and cutting speed were found to be 1 µm/tooth and 78 mms-1 respectively. The predicted burr heights were 5-7% larger than that of measured values.


The existence of numerous imaging modalities makes it possible to present different data present in different modalities together thus forming multimodal images. Component images forming multimodal images should be aligned, or registered so that all the data, coming from the different modalities, are displayed in proper locations. Mutual Information is the similarity measure used in this case for optimizing the two images. This method requires estimating joint histogram of the two images. The fusion of images is the process of combining two or more images into a single image retaining important features from each. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) has become an attractive tool for fusing multimodal images. In this work it has been used to segment the features of the input images to produce a region map. Features of each region are calculated and a region based approach is used to fuse the images in the wavelet domain.


Social media addiction is a situation where student uses social media until they do not have time or willingness to do anything else. Social media addictions have already influenced teenagers in many countries including the students at XYZ high school. Social media addiction can affect morality level of the students because of the contents appeared in the social media. They can be influenced by the chatting, pictures and others things when they use social media. The value in the social media is not always good. Sometimes it contains violence, infidelity, drugs, pornography etc. These things are dangerous for the morality of the students. Other than that, social media addiction causes student's apathetic level will be increased. Students are very interested to chat in social media and do not care of others. Beside it, the students tend to have low academic score because they use their time more to use media social. All of these are very dangerous to the future of the students. Because of these reasons, the writer wants to know the pattern of relationship between social media addiction and morality level, apathetic level and academic score. These variables are latent variables so the data analysis will use partial least square method to solve the problem. The findings of the data analyses show that social media addiction level affect academic score and apathetic level of students in XYZ high school and the morality level affects students' academic score in XYZ high school.


This article draws on the authoritarian institutions literature to explain the role of dominant parties in constraining the ability of autocrats to reshuffle cabinet ministers. Dominant party leaders are constrained in their ability to frequently reshuffle ministers by the need to maintain credible power-sharing commitments with party elites. These constraints also produce distinct temporal patterns of instability where large reshuffles occur following elections. Conversely, personalist leaders face fewer power-sharing constraints and engage in more extensive cabinet reshuffles at more arbitrary intervals. Military leaders face complex constraints that depend on whether officers or civilians occupy cabinet posts and the extent to which leaders are dependent upon civilian ministers for regime performance and popular support. Empirical analyses using data on the cabinets of ninety-four authoritarian leaders from thirty-seven African countries between 1976 and 2010 support the theoretical expectations for dominant party and personalist leaders, but are inconclusive for military leaders.


Pre-trained deep image representations are useful for post-training tasks such as classification through transfer learning, image retrieval, and object detection. Data augmentations are a crucial aspect of pre-training robust representations in both supervised and self-supervised settings. Data augmentations explicitly or implicitly promote invariance in the embedding space to the input image transformations. This invariance reduces generalization to those downstream tasks which rely on sensitivity to these particular data augmentations. In this paper, we propose a method of learning representations that are instead equivariant to data augmentations. We achieve this equivariance through the use of steerable representations. Our representations can be manipulated directly in embedding space via learned linear maps. We demonstrate that our resulting steerable and equivariant representations lead to better performance on transfer learning and robustness: e.g. we improve linear probe top-1 accuracy by between 1% to 3% for transfer; and ImageNet-C accuracy by upto 3.4%. We further show that the steerability of our representations provides significant speedup (nearly 50x) for test-time augmentations; by applying a large number of augmentations for out-of-distribution detection, we significantly improve OOD AUC on the ImageNet-C dataset over an invariant representation.


Abstract. This paper presents an interdisciplinary to develop content-aware application that combines game with learning on specific categories of digital archives. The employment of content-oriented game enhances the gamification and efficacy of learning in culture education on architectures and history of Hsinchu County, Taiwan. The gamified form of the application is used as a backbone to support and provide a strong stimulation to engage users in learning art and culture, therefore this research is implementing under the goal of "The Digital ARt/ARchitecture Project". The purpose of the abovementioned project is to develop interactive serious game approaches and applications for Hsinchu County historical archives and architectures. Therefore, we present two applications, "3D AR for Hukou Old " and "Hsinchu County History Museum AR Tour" which are in form of augmented reality (AR). By using AR imaging techniques to blend real object and virtual content, the users can immerse in virtual exhibitions of Hukou Old Street and Hsinchu County History Museum, and to learn in ubiquitous computing environment. This paper proposes a content system that includes tools and materials used to create representations of digitized cultural archives including historical artifacts, documents, customs, religion, and architectures. The Digital ARt / ARchitecture Project is based on the concept of serious game and consists of three aspects: content creation, target management, and AR presentation. The project focuses on developing a proper approach to serve as an interactive game, and to offer a learning opportunity for appreciating historic architectures by playing AR cards. Furthermore, the card game aims to provide multi-faceted understanding and learning experience to help user learning through 3D objects, hyperlinked web data, and the manipulation of learning mode, and then effectively developing their learning levels on cultural and historical archives in Hsinchu County.


We analyze if large language models are able to predict patterns of human reading behavior. We compare the performance of language-specific and multilingual pretrained transformer models to predict reading time measures reflecting natural human sentence processing on Dutch, English, German, and Russian texts. This results in accurate models of human reading behavior, which indicates that transformer models implicitly encode relative importance in language in a way that is comparable to human processing mechanisms. We find that BERT and XLM models successfully predict a range of eye tracking features. In a series of experiments, we analyze the cross-domain and cross-language abilities of these models and show how they reflect human sentence processing.


Web Survey has increased in popularity because of its convenience, ease of use, low cost, and quickness in knowing the result of a survey in real time. Web survey is widely used to gather user opinions on various purposes. However, most such systems are plain-text, and sometimes with a few graphical images. This paper presents an innovative Multimedia-Based and Time-Sensitive Interactive (MTI) Web Survey to collect user opinions on the traffic condition. Open source development tools and emerging web technologies, such as PHP and AJAX, are used in implementing the system to achieve event-sensitive user opinions. This MTI web survey, though presented and illustrated by using road user opinion on traffic condition data, is a general technique that can be applied to any time-sensitive data collection. The usability testing on MTI web survey was also conducted to gain insights on usage issues and the results are discussed.