Users of modern portable consumer devices (smartphones, tablets etc.) expect ubiquitous delivery of high quality services, which fully utilise the capabilities of their devices. Video streaming is one of the most widely used yet challenging services for operators to deliver with assured service levels. This challenge is more apparent in wireless networks where bandwidth constraints and packet loss are common. The lower bandwidth requirements of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) provide the potential to enable service providers to deliver high quality video streams in low-bandwidth networks; however, packet loss may result in greater damage in perceived quality given the higher compression ratio. This work considers the delivery of HEVC encoded video streams in impaired network environments and quantifies the effects of network impairment on HEVC video streaming from the perspective of the end user. HEVC encoded streams were transmitted over a test network with both wired and wireless segments that had imperfect communication channels subject to packet loss. Two different error concealment methods were employed to mitigate packet loss and overcome reference decoder robustness issues. The perceptual quality of received video was subjectively assessed by a panel of viewers. Existing subjective studies of HEVC quality have not considered the implications of network impairments. Analysis of results has quantified the effects of packet loss in HEVC on perceptual quality and provided valuable insight into the relative importance of the main factors observed to influence user perception in HEVC streaming. The outputs from this study show the relative importance and relationship between those factors that affect human perception of quality in impaired HEVC encoded video streams. The subjective analysis is supported by comparison with commonly used objective quality measurement techniques. Outputs from this work may be used in the development of quality of experience (QoE) oriented streaming applications for HEVC in loss prone networks.


Background and purpose Recent meta-analyses have suggested similar wound infection rates when using single- or multiple-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in the operative management of closed long bone fractures. In order to assist clinicians in choosing the optimal prophylaxis strategy, we performed a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing single- and multiple-dose prophylaxis. Methods A cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the two prophylactic strategies was performed using time horizons of 60 days and 1 year. Infection probabilities, costs, and quality-adjusted life days (QALD) for each strategy were estimated from the literature. All costs were reported in 2007 US dollars. A base case analysis was performed for the surgical treatment of a closed ankle fracture. Sensitivity analysis was performed for all variables, including probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulation. Results Single-dose prophylaxis results in lower cost and a similar amount of quality-adjusted life days gained. The single-dose strategy had an average cost of $2,576 for an average gain of 272 QALD. Multiple doses had an average cost of $2,596 for 272 QALD gained. These results are sensitive to the incidence of surgical site infection and deep wound infection for the single-dose treatment arm. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis using all model variables also demonstrated preference for the single-dose strategy. Interpretation Assuming similar infection rates between the prophylactic groups, our results suggest that single-dose prophylaxis is slightly more cost-effective than multiple-dose regimens for the treatment of closed fractures. Extensive sensitivity analysis demonstrates these results to be stable using published meta-analysis infection rates.


Bi-plane correlation imaging (BCI) is a new imaging approach that utilizes angular information from a bi-plane digital acquisition in conjunction with computer assisted detection (CAD) to reduce the degrading influence of anatomical noise in the detection of subtle lesions in planar images. An anthropomorphic chest phantom, supplemented with added nodule phantoms (5-13 mm at the image plane), was imaged from different posterior projections within a ±12° range by moving the x-ray tube vertically and horizontally with respect to the detector. Each image was analyzed using a basic front-end single-view CAD algorithm. The correlation of the suspect lesions from the PA view with those from each of the oblique views was examined using a priori knowledge of the acquisition geometry. The correlated suspect lesions were registered as positive. Using an optimum --3° vertical geometry and processing parameters, BCI resulted in 62.5% sensitivity, 1.5 FP/image, and 0.885 PPV. The corresponding values from the observer experiment were 56% sensitivity, 10.8 FP/image, and 0.45 PPV, respectively. Compared to single-view CAD results, the BCI reduced sensitivity by 20%. However, the corresponding reduction in FPs was notably higher (94%) leading to 140% improvement in the PPV. Changes in processing parameters could result in higher PPV and lower FP/image at the expense of lower sensitivity. Similar findings were indicated for small (5-9 mm) and large (9-13 mm) nodules, but the relative improvement was significantly higher for smaller nodules. (The research was supported by a grant from the NIH, R21CA91806.)


Objective—A low level of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a major risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. To identify novel genes regulating plasma HDL-C levels, we investigated 13 multigenerational French Canadian families with an average of 12 affected individuals per family for genome-wide signals, which we subsequently fine mapped. Methods and Results—We genotyped a total of 362 individuals, including 151 affected subjects for 485 autosomal microsatellite markers. In parametric 2-point linkage analyses, the highest 2-point logarithm of odds (lod) score of 4.6 was observed with marker D4S424 on chromosome 4q31.21 (at ≈142 Mb). The multipoint analysis of this region resulted in a lod score of 3.8 and a lod −1 region of 12.2 cM, containing 40 known genes. The results were obtained by allowing for genetic heterogeneity among these extended pedigrees, and ≈50% of families were linked to this region with the highest single-pedigree lod score being 3.6. We further restricted the linked region from 12.2 to 2.9 cM (2.37 Mb) by genotyping 15 additional markers in the 3 families with the highest lod scores. We sequenced 4 genes with a likely role in lipid metabolism as well as 2 genes residing directly under the linkage peak but found no evidence for a causative variant. None of the genes residing in the significantly restricted 2.37-Mb region has been associated previously with HDL-C metabolism. Conclusion—This study provides significant evidence for a gene influencing HDL-C on chromosome 4q31.21.


INTRODUCTION: Motor vehicle accidents represent a public health problem in Mexico City due to the morbidity and mortality they involve; they are caused by the recklessness of drivers and failure to observe the transit regulations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Deaths due to motor vehicle accidents that occurred between 2005 and 2006 were analyzed according to the age group, type of accident, type of vehicle, hour and day of the accident. In case of deaths, the site of death--accident site, ambulance or hospital--was determined. RESULTS: The number of alcohol-related accidents decreased as a result of programs like the breathalyzer and radar. DISCUSSION: The measures implemented to reduce the accident-related mortality rate in Mexico City have not been effective enough from the perspective of the overall phenomenon, and thus the mortality shows a stable trend. Language: es


Many applications of wireless sensor networks require collaboration among sensor nodes to achieve a common task. Moreover, this is often dynamic in nature. For instance, in multi-object tracking, sensor nodes that are tracking various moving objects must share information in order to improve the tracking quality. Thus, it is important to have a protocol that maintains group connectivity in such a setting. In this paper, we study the problem of maintaining communication paths among a group of moving agents that have interacted with one another. As its solution, we propose a data structure called the distributed collaboration graph (DCG), which is a communication graph obtained from the agent trajectories. The DCG can be constructed in a purely distributed fashion with very little cost and can be used for group discovery and for multicasting/broadcasting among agents. We also propose a distributed protocol which maintains a communication tree among the agents within the DCG while the agents are moving. This allows us to maintain group connectivity and provides the infrastructure for routing among the moving agents.


What is the carbon footprint of streaming media? This has become a hot topic and more relevant question since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for self-isolation. What is needed is a reasonable model that considers all previous models published within the literature. However, whereas the existing models are either too high-level or incomplete and partial, we propose a holistic end-to-end model that balances the high-level and highly detailed. Additionally, most current models push a political agenda that biases the resulting calculations. We have taken a more neutral approach to avoid possible underlying motives or bias. We work our model by calculating the environmental impact of watching one hour of Netflix and showing the carbon footprint of a stream and the impact of unused energy in data centers.


This Letter presents field‐based evidence of the perturbing effects of surface anisotropy on the remote sensing of burned savannah. The analysis is based on bidirectional spectral reflectance data collected at different solar illumination angles and convolved to Moderate‐resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) reflective bands. Results from a grass savannah site show that burning reduces the anisotropy of the surface compared to its pre‐burn state. In contrast, at a shrub savannah site, burning reduces or increases surface anisotropy. Spectral indices defined from 1.240 µm and 2.130 µm reflectance, and 1.640 µm and 2.130 µm reflectance, provided stronger diurnal separation between burned and unburned areas than individual reflectance bands but do not eliminate anisotropic effects. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) provides weak diurnal separation relative to these near‐ and mid‐infrared based indices. Implications of the findings are discussed for burned area mapping.


INTRODUCTION
Rabies, an infectious disease mainly transmitted by dog bites, is fatal due to lack of appropriate knowledge-attitudes-practices (KAP). The KAP of healthcare providers are particularly important because of their presence in the communities and their profession and were evaluated in the present study.

METHODS
A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted in healthcare providers recruited from four health districts in Chad in 2015. Data were analysed with Epi Info. 7.

RESULTS
270 health care providers were interviewed. 87% defined rabies as a disease transmitted from dogs to man. The main reservoir of rabies was the dog (96.7%), the cat (68.9%), but also other animals (35%). All respondents reported dogs to be a vector and 79.6% reported cats. Healthcare providers considered that the virus was transmitted by bites (99.3%) and scratches (50%). The primary means of prevention was vaccination of dogs (82.1%) and post-exposure prophylaxis (16.4%). Immediate washing of the wounds was reported by 65.2% of respondents.

CONCLUSION
Healthcare providers have a good knowledge of the dog as a reservoir and vector of rabies. However, continuous training is needed to enable them to acquire knowledge about the role of cats and the importance of scratching in the transmission of rabies virus, the need for wound washing, and appropriate bite management based on collaboration between human and veterinary health sectors.


In 123 cases of lens luxation the lens was removed from the vitreous by cryoextraction. It was a success in 119 cases, always intracapsular, and in the majority of cases without or only with a minimal loss of vitreous. A vitrectomy or vitreous suction was never necessary. Evaluating these results, one would advise to employ this procedure early before an advanced vitreous destruction may occur.


Introduction : non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death globally. Low-and-middle-income countries show an increasing burden though they still struggle with the epidemic of communicable diseases. The detrimental effects of non-communicable disease on Ghana include increase in poverty due to loss of person-years and medical expenditure. Since periodic assessments of modifiable risk factors especially in young people is essential to curb this epidemic. We sought to assess risk factors of NCDS among adolescents in a senior high school. Methods : we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in a senior high school in Accra from May-June, 2016. Adolescents were interviewed with a structured questionnaire designed using the WHO STEPS framework. Data on tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical activity and physical measurements of respondents were taken. We calculated BMI and classified the students using CDC growth reference standards. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for the various risk factors and the number of risk factors each child had was also determined. Results : a total of 360 adolescents in the school were assessed. Mean age was (17±1.21) years with minimum age being 13 and maximum 19 years. Females were 51% (184/360). About 75% (271/360) reported being physically inactive, 15% (55/360) were overweight or obese (CI 0.0317-0.078), 7.0% (25/360) consumed alcohol (CI 0.054-0.111) and 2.5 %( 9/360) smoked tobacco (CI 0.013- 0.048). Majority of the respondents (346/360) were exposed to at least one risk factor. However, no one was found to be involved in all five risk factors assessed. Females were three times more likely to be overweight or obese compared to their male counterparts (OR; 3, 95%CI 1.581-5.624). Conclusion : we found that majority of the children were physically inactive and more than 90% of the respondents had at least one NCD risk. We recommend that public health practitioners engage school authorities in discussions on how best active exercises can be included into the school system and encouraged among students. Health facility outreaches with education on how to live healthy should also target schools so that periodic assessment of NCD risk factors among school children can be carried out periodically. This would go a long way to prevent the epidemic in the future.


The artificial intelligence (AI) is used to automate the operation by taking a decision based on the situation or conditions. It is expected that around 2025, Robotics can move on earth similar to a human and support human society. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is in every field to automate the decision making intelligence to execute the desired operation. Understanding the need and importance of AUV for underwater operation, the authors have identified the need an AUV for the monitor, search and rescue operation. During the development unmanned vehicle, it was identified that the major task and key functionalities to be known to the researchers who want to contribute in this AI domain. The functionalities of AUV is decided by features which can be grouped into six categories as (i) Design of AUV shape (ii) Functionalities (iii) Design of Mechanical and Electrical system (iv) Control system (v) Navigation system (vi) Embedded system/software programming and (vii) Propulsion system. As a researcher, understanding each task or goal is very much needed and useful. Keeping the new researchers need, each task has been studied and highlighted the critical issue in each task which was faced in our development process. This paper can encourage many new researchers to do research in the upcoming domain of AUV.


Objective. To analyze the inclusion of human rights in HIV/ AIDS norms in Mexico and Central America for the 19932000 period. Material and Methods. Norms and regulations for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in this region were analyzed. A constructivist perspective of judiciary subsystems and human rights was used as a reference framework, to establish categories of analysis with significance codes based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Results. During the study period, human rights were included within a vigorous legislative activity for HIV/AIDS transmission prevention. In some cases (as in the Panama Law and the Honduras Proposal) there were passages of law violating the right to non-discrimination and privacy. These laws lead to either of two conflicting paths: one ensuring human rights, and another increasing the vulnerability of some groups. Conclusions. The authors emphasize the importance of gaining a new understanding of social subjects and epidemiological surveillance, based on norms that incorporate human rights issues. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html


Summary

1
Lowland wet grassland in western Europe is often managed for breeding wading birds, especially lapwing Vanellus vanellus, redshank Tringa totanus, snipe Gallinago gallinago and black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa. Recommended conservation management often entails introducing winter flooding, and in Britain there is government funding to encourage this through the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme.

2
Soil macroinvertebrates are important prey for breeding wading birds on lowland wet grassland. This study quantified the response of soil macroinvertebrates to flooding, their ability to survive in flooded grassland, and changes in the abundance and physical availability of soil macroinvertebrates for feeding wading birds as flood water subsides.

3
Unflooded grasslands contained high biomasses of soil macroinvertebrates, comprising mainly Tipulidae larvae and earthworm species that are widespread in pastures. Grasslands with a long history of winter flooding contained much lower biomasses of soil macroinvertebrates, comprising mainly a limited range of semi-aquatic earthworm species.

4
Introducing winter flooding to previously unflooded grassland greatly reduced soil macroinvertebrate biomass. This was mainly due to the majority of earthworms vacating the soil soon after the onset of flooding. However, when earthworms were artificially confined in flooded soils, most species were capable of surviving periods of at least 120 days continual submergence. Winter flooding also expelled large numbers of overwintering arthropods from the soil.

5
Soil macroinvertebrates were slow to recolonize winter-flooded grassland when it was re-immersed in spring. Consequently, prey biomass for breeding wading birds remained low in areas that had been flooded during the preceding winter. However, winter flooding probably benefited breeding snipe by helping keep the soil soft enough for them to probe for prey. It also probably benefited breeding lapwings and redshank by helping keep the sward short and open enough for them to feed in during the latter part of their breeding season. Pools of winter flood water that remained in spring and early summer also provided a source of aquatic invertebrate prey for breeding wading birds.

6
We suggest that the best feeding conditions for breeding snipe will be provided by keeping the upper soil soft enough for them to probe in but without reducing soil macroinvertebrate biomass by flooding it beforehand. Optimal conditions for breeding lapwings and redshank will probably be provided by creating a mosaic of unflooded grassland, winter-flooded grassland and shallow pools.


Language can be loosely defined as the ability to associate sounds and
meanings through grammar rules.
The problem of its origin, the definition of its characteristics and its
social and philosophical implications are a constant factor crossing the
disciplines and fields of research which are very distant with each other,
ranging from religion to linguistics, from anthropology to archeology,
from psychology to neuroscience.
More recently, two subjects of particular interest for this work have taken
a great interest in the origin of language: prehistoric archeology and
neuroscience, which have merged in what Renfrew (2008) defines
"neuroarcheology".
The approach taken in this work aims to integrate the data derived from
the ancient technical behavior with the data of neurophysiology to
support the motor theory about the origin of language, according to the intuition of Liberman (1985, 1991, 2000) who identifies the last
constituents of speech not in the sounds, but in the articulatory gestures
evolved exclusively in the service of language.
The study is based on the assumption that language production and
lithics assemblages possess a common neural substrate, to be found in the
involvement of the motor system in cognitive processes (Fadiga,
Craighero 2006; Fadiga, Craighero 2007; Rizzolatti, Arbib 1998).
As shown by recent data, Broca's area (area which is located at the foot
of the third frontal convolution of the left hemisphere, corresponding to
the Broadmann areas 44 and 45 ), in addition to its traditional functions
(linguistic production, activation during listening), seems also involved
in motor tasks such as the execution of actions and the observation of
similar actions performed by others (Arbib 2000; Buccino 2005). Broca's
area, in fact, is involved in the production and observation of manual and
orofacial gestures. These data allowed to hypothesize that this area may
represent a central hub for the connection between language, movement
and sensory-motor processes (Fadiga, Craighero 2006).
The immediacy with which we understand the actions of others has
suggested the existence of a mechanism of direct and immediate
understanding where the actions performed by others are directly
represented in the observer's motor system, which contains, therefore, a
motor copy of the actions observed by allowing a better understanding,
prior to any process of cognitive elaboration. The mechanism underlying
the ability to understand others is represented by the "mirror neurons"
(Rizzolatti et al. 1996).
Human language may be regarded, therefore, as the evolutionary
refinement of an implicit communication system based on finalist representations of actions of hand and mouth, as the precursor of Broca's
area was equipped, before the emergence of language, with a system of
gesture recognition through the organization and interpretation of motor
sequences in terms of goals for the actions (Rizzolatti, Arbib 1998). It
can be assumed, therefore, that our ancestors were endowed with a brain
region in which objectives and programs were represented in a syntactic
way (Fadiga, Craighero 2007). The activation of the Broca's area to the
observations of the actions could therefore constitute the neurobiological
connection to the motor origin of the well-contructed speech and,
functionally speaking, the tool-making the intermediate step between the
representation of actions and the verbal communication (Fadiga et al.
2007; Peeters et al. 2009).
To support what is outlined in these theoretical premises, experimental
data will be shown in order to study the cortical representation during the
observation of tools (that is of tools easy to grasp with a functional
purpose) by detecting cortical excitability.


Forest utilization usually has an impact on changes in forest structure and species composition. The species of trees selected and ecosystem management system that refer to biodiversity characteristics will be explained by better knowledge of Functional Species Group (FSG). The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of vegetation recovery based on FSG in production forest managed with silvicultural system known as Selective Cutting and Line Planting System (SCLP) and undisturbed forest known as Germplasm Preservation Areas (GPCA) in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The results showed that the proportion of climax group in the entire observation plots was greater than pioneer species group, i.e. climax 100 species and pioneer 59 species. Stand structure both climax and pioneer species group has inverse J shape curve. It means that the species composition of logged-over forest is still in balance condition, characterized with high index of diversity (H' > 3).


As new technologies continue to emerge, students and lecturers are provided with new educational tools. One such tool, which is increasingly used in higher education, is digital storytelling, i.e. multi-media digital narratives. Despite the increasing attention that education and media scholars have paid to digital storytelling, there is scant research examining digital narratives from a discourse-analytic perspective. This paper addresses this gap in the literature and, in line with the belief that individuals make meaning through a range of semiotic devices, including, among others, language, sound, graphics and text, it aims to examine discourse strategies of factuality and subjectivity in historical-cultural digital narratives and their multimodal realisations (Kress & Van Leeuwen 2001; Patrona 2005). To carry out this study a corpus of 16 digital stories was compiled and analysed from a multidisciplinary framework which draws from studies on digital storytelling, computer-mediated communication, media studies, and multimodal discourse analysis. Results show that students/digital story tellers resort to a number of varied multimodal discursive strategies which are constitutive of their identity as capable students in an educational setting.


Oxidative stress can alter the expression level of many microRNAs (miRNAs), but how these changes are integrated and related to oxidative stress responses is poorly understood. In this article, we addressed this question by using in silico tools. We reviewed the literature for miRNAs whose expression is altered upon oxidative stress damage and used them in combination with various databases and software to predict common gene targets of oxidative stress-modulated miRNAs and affected pathways. Furthermore, we identified miRNAs that simultaneously target the predicted oxidative stress-modulated miRNA gene targets. This generated a list of novel candidate miRNAs potentially involved in oxidative stress responses. By literature search and grouping of pathways and cellular responses, we could classify these candidate miRNAs and their targets into a larger scheme related to oxidative stress responses. To further exemplify the potential of our approach in free radical research, we used our explorative tools in combination with ingenuity pathway analysis to successfully identify new candidate miRNAs involved in the ubiquitination process, a master regulator of cellular responses to oxidative stress and proteostasis. Lastly, we demonstrate that our approach may also be useful to identify novel candidate connections between oxidative stress-related miRNAs and autophagy. In summary, our results indicate novel and important aspects with regard to the integrated biological roles of oxidative stress-modulated miRNAs and demonstrate how this type of in silico approach can be useful as a starting point to generate hypotheses and guide further research on the interrelation between miRNA-based gene regulation, oxidative stress signaling pathways, and autophagy.


Abstract Purpose: The study aims to build a typology of family businesses with relatively short experience in the free-market economy. The typology is based on the goal preferences of the family businesses. Methodology: The research is based on empirical data from Polish medium-sized and large enterprises, collected in 2014. Using cluster analysis and variance analysis, we identified four types of family enterprises based on their goal perceptions and tested the differences among them. Results: The article distinguishes and characterizes four types of family enterprises: "business first, family second," "only business," "immature," and "family first, business second." Originality/value: The proposed typology is similar to that presented in the subject literature. Nevertheless, our contribution resides in the discovery that even if family and business goals are integrated in the enterprise, one of the systems will be dominant. Moreover, enterprises that only prioritize family goals were absent in the explored data set.


Breast cancer encompasses a collection of different diseases characterized by different biological and pathological features, clinical presentation, response to treatments, clinical behavior, and outcome. On the basis of cell morphology, growth, and architecture patterns, breast cancer can be classified in up to 21 distinct histological types. Breast cancer special types, including the classic lobular invasive carcinoma, represent 25% of all breast cancers. The histological diversity of breast carcinomas has relevant prognostic implications. Indeed, the rare breast cancer group includes subtypes with very different prognoses, ranging from the tubular carcinoma, associated with an indolent clinical course, to metaplastic cancer, whose outcome is generally unfavorable. New approaches based on gene expression profiling allow the identification of molecularly defined breast cancer classes, with distinct biological features and clinical behavior. In clinical practice, immunohistochemical classification based on the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and Ki67 is applied as a surrogate of the intrinsic molecular subtypes. However, the identification of intrinsic molecular subtypes were almost completely limited to the study of ductal invasive breast cancer. Moreover, some good-prognosis triple-negative histotypes, on the basis of gene expression profiling, can be classified among the poor-prognosis group. Therefore, histopathological classification remains a crucial component of breast cancer diagnosis. Special histologies can be very rare, and the majority of information on outcome and treatments derives from small series and case reports. As a consequence, clear recommendations about clinical management are still lacking. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about rare breast cancer histologies.


Indian English is one of the most important and widely-spoken varieties of English, and yet at present the pinnacle of lexicographical treatment of the variety remains the well-renowned and much feted Hobson Jobson, originally published in 1886, with a second edition in 1903. British English has the Oxford, American English the Webster's, Australian English the Macquarie, but Indian English must do with a dictionary over a century out of date. More recent lexicographical works that focus on Indian English suffer from a number of deficiencies that do not do the variety due justice. This paper analyses a selection of the currently available dictionaries on Indian English in order to identify these deficiencies. Finally, suggestions are made as to possible dictionary projects that may move Indian English lexicography, and the lexicography of other New Englishes, beyond Hobson Jobson and towards the 21st century.


Abstract Context. Wild predators are a serious threat to livestock in Australia. Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) may be able to reduce or eliminate predation, but their effectiveness in Australian grazing systems has not been systematically evaluated. In particular, little is known about the effectiveness of LGDs in situations where they range freely over large areas in company with large numbers of livestock. Aims. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LGDs as currently used in Australia and determine the factors influencing effectiveness, in particular in relation to scale of management. We also documented how LGDs are managed in Australia, evaluated their cost effectiveness, and identified factors that influence the number of dogs required in different property situations. Methods. We conducted a telephone survey of 150 livestock producers with LGDs in Australia, including all livestock types and property situations, in all States. Ten producers were visited, of which one is detailed as a case study. Key results. Effectiveness was apparently high: 65.7% of respondents reported that predation ceased after obtaining LGDs, and a further 30.2% reported a decrease of predation. When the number of stock per dog exceeds 100, LGDs might not be able to eliminate all predation. Dogs are often kept free-ranging on large properties where wild dogs are the main predator, but are usually restricted in their movements on smaller properties or with smaller predators. The cost of obtaining a LGD is returned within 1–3 years after the dog starts working. The number of dogs required for a property mainly depends on the number of livestock needing protection, and the main type of predator in the area. Conclusions. Provided a sufficient number of LGDs are used, they can be as effective in protecting livestock from predators in Australia when ranging freely on large properties with large numbers of livestock as they are in small-scale farming systems. Implications. LGDs can provide a cost-effective alternative to conventional predator control methods in Australia's extensive grazing enterprises, potentially reducing or eliminating the need for other forms of control. LGDs could play a major role in securing the viability of livestock businesses and reconciling people–predator conflict in Australia.


Aim Acute pancreatitis frequently involves peripancreatic tissues and remote organ systems resulting in severe complications and high risk of mortality. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the effect of omental flap as a new treatment of acute pancreatitis. Methods Ten mongrel dogs with experimentally induced acute pancreatitis were randomly divided into two equal groups; treated and control groups. The pancreas was wrapped with omental flap in the treated group and the pancreas was left without treatment in control group. Urea, Creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, serum Amylase, Ca, and C-reactive protein were measured in all dogs before surgery and 2 hours, 3 days, 7 days, and 4 weeks post-surgery. Weekly ultrasound examination was performed post-surgery. Exploratory laparotomy was carried out 45 days post-surgery, all findings were reported and pancreatic biopsies were collected and prepared for histopathological examination using Schmidt Scoring system. Data were displayed as the mean ± SD and SPSS was used. Statistical significance (at P < 0.05) was calculated by χ2 test. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in favor of the treated group as regards levels of lactate dehydrogenase, ultrasonographic findings, pathological findings and Schmidt scoring. Conclusion Omental flap can be used as a new minimally invasive effective technique for treatment of acute pancreatitis.


The Haicheng, China earthquake of February 4, 1975, was the first major seismic event to be predicted. In this paper, long-period teleseismic P waves and S waves from this event are compared directly to time-domain synthetic seismograms to infer the source parameters. Results indicate the focal mechanism of the earthquake is nearly left-lateral strike slip along a northwest striking nodal plane (strike = 288°, dip = 78° N, rake = 342°). The strike of this nodal plane agrees with the trend of the aftershock distribution. Seismic moment is 3 × 10^(26) dyne-cm and source duration is 7 sec. Azimuthal variation of P-wave duration is attributed to fault propagation in a northwesterly direction along the strike of the aftershock zone. A model with a fault length of 22 km and rupture velocity of 3.2 km/sec can explain the observed P waves quite well. There is considerable discrepancy between observed SH waves and synthetics computed using this model. These discrepancies are due to source structure complexities and/or changes of fault mechanism as the rupture propagated along strike. The average dislocation is computed to be 2.8 m and the stress drop is 53 bars.


Hello my lovely readers, it's been a while since I have wrote about beads in detail. In this blog, I am going to discuss about various types of beads for jewelry making. Beads are one material which is very popular and used in most of the jewelry items. However, most people don't know about the wide range available in them. So, in this blog, I will discuss about the various types of beads used for jewelry making:

 (1) Glass Beads:

Glass Beads come in round and cylindrical tube shape. They are perfect for making jewelry items like necklace, bracelets, earrings and anklets. The colorful collection available in these seed beads, delica beads and bugle beads will totally amaze you. The gold, silver and black beads are the mostly used not only in jewelry making but also in embroidery. (2) Crystal Beads :

You can find an amazing collection of crystal beads at our online store. From cone, bicone, rectangle to rondelle, you can find various lovely shapes in them. These beads have beautiful crystal shine because of the gorgeous finish. You can also find Swarovski Bicone Beads here.

The other most interest bead in this category is disco ball or shambhala beads. They are most amazing and alluring pieces which can take your designs to another level. You can mix and match them all or use them individually. They are all equally beautiful. (3) Pearls:

Pearls are girl's companion for life and when available by Swarovski they become much more likable and lovable. You can find acrylic, glass and crystal beads at your own favorite online store and can buy pearls online. These pearls are perfect be it a necklace or an earring.

 (4) Spacer and Stone Beads:

You can also find beautiful collection of stones and spacer beads in various gorgeous patterns and colors. They can be total game changer when it comes to designing any jewelry pieces. Spacer beads specially can be put to use in so many ways. They can help you to refine your jewelry pieces and let them stand out.
So, these were all the different types of beads and you can shop from our online bead store. Please let me know in the comments below which bead you like the most and what are you going to create with them.


ABSTRACT Lyotropic quaternary mixtures of potassium alkanoates (KCx) and sodium alkyl sulphates (NaCxS), where x is the number of carbon atoms in their alkyl chains, were prepared to investigate the effect of the surfactant alkyl chain length on the stabilisation of lyotropic nematic phases. The lyotropic mixtures investigated were formed by the dissolution of KCx (NaCxS) surfactants in the mixture of Rb2SO4/1-decanol/water (Na2SO4/1-decanol/water), separately. The uniaxial-to-biaxial nematic phase transitions were identified from the temperature dependence of the birefringences of the nematic phases by means of laser conoscopy. The micelle dimensions were obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. It was observed that the increase in the surfactant alkyl chain length causes the micellar growth in the plane perpendicular to the main amphiphile bilayer. The surfactant alkyl chain length plays a key role on the shape anisotropy of micelles, which triggers the orientational fluctuations that are responsible for the stabilisation of the different lyotropic nematic phases. Graphical Abstract


Woman's participation in Brazilian labor market has increased remarkably in the last decades. Moreover, those who found jobs are the most qualified ones. Despite these changes, unemployment rates are still higher, the wages are lower, and the employment is highly concentrated in some sectors. In this context, this paper aims to evaluate the importance of woman's work, and its growth, for the Brazilian economy in recent years. We use a Dynamic General Equilibrium Model for Brazil, which follows the Australian modelling approach, with two main developments. First, we disaggregate the labor factor by gender and qualification. Secondly, we split the household income into four types: labor; capital; government transfers and other sources. Two simulations were carried out, historical and decomposition, both for the period 2006-2013. Results showed that when analyzing the GDP composition, labor loses contribution. However, at the same time, woman's contribution to total labor increased from 34.71% to 42.38%. This increase reflects not only the increase in women's employment, but especially reveals its increasing contribution to the national income. The decomposition simulation demonstrates that 31.17% of the average growth of GDP in the period was explained by changes in labor usage, being 28.37% due to the increased use of high-skilled woman. Regardless the positive overall effect on the economy, for several sectors changes in labor composition produced negative effects on production growth in the period. In general, the positive impacts were concentrated in the sectors related to domestic demand, in which women's work with high qualification gained importance, such as clothing items and accessories, leather goods and footwear, perfumery, hygiene and cleaning and most service sectors. On the other side, the negative effects were concentrated in manufacturing sectors linked to exports and the services related to them.


We numerically investigate the sense in which an adaptive control law achieves internal model control of Hammerstein plants with Prandtl–Ishlinskii hysteresis. We apply retrospective cost adaptive control to a command-following problem for uncertain Hammerstein systems with hysteretic input nonlinearities. The only required modeling information of the linear plant is a single Markov parameter. Describing functions are used to determine whether the adaptive controller inverts the plant at the exogenous frequencies.


'Screening for postnatal depression; not a simple task' is a well-titled paper and highlights some of the important difficulties in identifying and managing women with depression. I am concerned, however, about the authors' conclusions and their misrepresentation of the recommendations of the beyondblue National Postnatal Depression Program. The authors state that the screening program they reviewed (not one that was part of the beyondblue program) "did not meet the primary objective" of screening three times in the first 12 months. In the first instance, the methodology of this study is problematic, relying on retrospective case records. Second, this expectation may be quite unrealistic and not in itself a measure of failure. As the authors agree, identification is problematic without screening and, as Lumley et al.'s study highlights, just being sensitive to the woman, no matter how well trained, is also inadequate and does not increase the identification. The beyondblue program screened more than 40,000 women, most done as part of routine care. For more than 17,000 of these, in New South Wales where screening is routine, all women participated so there was no dropout/refusal; while those who participated in the follow-up may have found it less problematic, this is a problem of all research participation. The authors state that women prefer to talk about their problems rather than complete a questionnaire. This is how the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) should be used and how our program asked for it to be used – only as a talking point to ensure that depression is part of routine care just as blood pressure, urinary glucose and other physical care is. Some women will choose to not complete it accurately or deny their symptoms because of issues such as stigma. Our own qualitative study on why women don't seek or delay seeking help shows that it is not screening that is the problem, but such things as societal pressures and lack of information. These women do get into help eventually, but by then much more long-term issues will have arisen with potential negative impact on child development. We know that not routinely asking does not work, but treatments do – we need to work to ensure they are identified as soon as possible. The argument should not be about whether screening should be universal or not (and other authors have concluded that it is effective), but rather how we should be asking about emotional mental health in a routine, universal way that promotes decreasing stigma and accessing of services. The beyondblue program did recommend routine screening. The current process, again funded by beyondblue, is looking at what this screening should entail – and maybe for everyone it will not include the EPDS, but routine emotional health questions. But the recommendation was also very clear that any routine 'screening' MUST include adequate support and training of staff AND adequate pathways to care. In other words, best evidencebased care for early identification and treatment.


Personality stability and change is mostly studied nomothetically, usually by
means of questionnaires. Therefore, we focus on subjective description of
personal change. The research was done with the sample of 56 adults (22 men
and 34 women aged from 36 to 40). We used the life-line technique to elicit a
life-story telling – respondents were asked to draw a line representing their
lives and then were invited to tell a story about their lives. We asked the
question about personal change explicitly. In most cases the referred changes
can be labelled as normative, which are typical for adulthood (acquirement of
autonomy, deepened sense of responsibility, shift towards the more rational
and calm approach to life events, expected bodily changes). Non-normative
personal changes are associated with unusual life course (eg. continued living
with parents) or life events (eg. death of son).


Volunteer programs can benefit from a deeper understanding of the motivations and experiences of people engaged in citizen science. Research to date has studied motivations of citizen scientists and tree-planting volunteers. Less work has focused on tree-monitoring volunteers, a role that is rapidly increasing as more cities involve the public in monitoring the urban forest. Researchers conducted an assessment of volunteers (n = 636 respondents) of the TreesCount! 2015 street tree census in New York City, New York, U.S., to understand volunteers' demographics, motivations, experiences, and levels of civic engagement. Semistructured interviews (n = 40) were also conducted on a subset of the initial assessment respondents, to deepen understanding of these factors. Like tree-planting volunteers in previous studies, volunteers were more likely to be highly educated, female, white, and with high income levels. Top self-identified motivations for participation included personal values, wanting to contribute, and a desire for education or learning. Demographics correlated with different motivations, suggesting opportunities for targeting recruitment efforts to better reach underrepresented populations. Researchers also found motivations shifted slightly in post-census interviews, also identifying a new theme of exploring the city. Street-tree monitoring presents opportunities for contributing to one's community or city, and for learning about trees and urban nature, suggesting these acts of engagement can both strengthen connections to social-ecological systems and provide personal benefits. At the same time, considering volunteer motivations, experiences, and outcomes when designing programs can positively affect participation turnout, effort, and retention.


Background: Toenail onychomycosis is highly prevalent, with 14-28% of people aged 60 or over suffering from the disease. Use of a topical antifungal alone in toenail onychomycosis is associated with low cure rates. This may be due to limited penetration of the topical antifungal through the diseased nail. The objective of the present study was to compare two treatment modalities to obtain diseased nail chemical avulsion in toenail onychomycosis. Methods: In this European, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, active-controlled study, male or female adult patients with distal-lateral or lateral subungual dermatophyte onychomycosis on at least 12.5% of the great toenail were randomized either to a 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing group (n = 53) or to a bifonazole-urea ointment group (n = 52). The ointments were applied daily for a maximum of 3 weeks according to the summary of product characteristics. After assessment of infected nail debridement, topical antifungal treatment with bifonazole cream was applied daily in both groups for 8 weeks. 102 patients were evaluated, i.e. 51 in the 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing group and 51 in the bifonazole-urea group. The primary end point was complete removal of the nail plate at day 21 (D21). Secondary end points were: complete cure and mycological cure evaluated at D105. Ease of use and local tolerability were also assessed. Results: Complete removal of the clinically infected target nail plate area, assessed by blinded evaluators, was significantly higher in the 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing group (61.2%) than in the control group (39.2%), showing the superiority of 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing (p = 0.028). The same results were observed in the per-protocol population (63.0 vs. 36.6%; p = 0.014). Complete removal of the infected area assessed by the investigator at D21 showed a significantly higher success rate in patients treated with 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing (86.3%) as compared to patients treated with bifonazole-urea (60.8%), confirming the superiority of 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing (p = 0.004). At D105, the complete cure of onychomycosis, a criterion combining clinical and mycological assessments, showed a success rate of 27.7% for 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing versus 20.8% for the control group. No statistical difference was observed between the two treatment groups. The number of patients with at least one adverse event was twice as high in the bifonazole-urea group in comparison to the 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing group. Overall assessment of local tolerability by the investigator was considered good/very good in 98.0% of the 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing patients versus 90.4% of the bifonazole-urea patients, at D21, with no significant difference between both groups. Conclusion: This study shows the superiority of 40% urea ointment with plastic dressing to bifonazole-urea ointment for complete removal of the infected target nail assessed by blinded evaluators and by the investigators. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of preliminary chemical nail avulsion on the efficacy of topical treatment of onychomycosis as assessed by complete cure at 1 year.


Road safety analysis is important for vehicles that travel at high speeds. This study proposes a novel viability kernel calculation method for road safety analysis. The viability kernel can be represented by a polyhedron, which is suitable for calculation of the algorithm. This facility solves the problem of analysing the permanent admissible areas of the road with constrains and all possible input of the vehicle. First, the concepts of the viability kernel are described and a simplified vehicle model is developed. Second, the viability kernel is applied to analyse road safety for vehicles on a straight road. Third, the analyses are extended to a straight-corner-straight model, which can be used to simulate general road conditions. The proposed method can predict the largest safety area of the road for vehicles travelling at a high constant speed. In the future, the proposed methods can be applied to calculate the radical safe control for high-speed vehicles in complex road circumstances.


The ATOC demonstration experiment involves the installation of two fixed acoustic sources, one near Hawaii and the other near Pt. Sur, California, the instrumentation of several Navy receiver systems in the North Pacific, and the deployment of autonomous and cabled‐to‐short vertical arrays. Extension of the experiment to other oceans may require the installation of eight to ten additional sources and as many as 40 receivers. In this paper the ATOC network and site selection criteria are described for the demonstration phase as well as for its extension, the design of the sources and receivers to be used for the demonstration phase, and the technologies currently being considered for long‐term, world‐wide use.


 Abstract — Brain information transmission in the neuronal network occurs in the form of electrical signals. Neural work transmits information between the neurons or neurons and target cells by moving charged particles in a voltage field; a fraction of the energy utilized in this process is dissipated via entropy generation. Exergy loss and entropy generation models demonstrate the inefficiencies of the communication along the dendritic trees. In this study, neurons of 4 different animals were analyzed with one dimensional cable model with N=6 identical dendritic trees and M=3 order of symmetrical branching. Each branch symmetrically bifurcates in accordance with the 3/2 power law in an infinitely long cylinder with the usual core conductor assumptions, where membrane potential is conserved in the core conductor at all branching points. In the model, exergy loss and entropy generation rates are calculated for each branch of equivalent cylinders of electrotonic length (L) ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 for four different dendritic branches, input branch (BI), and sister branch (BS) and two cousin branches (BC-1 & BC-2). Thermodynamic analysis with the data coming from two different cat motoneuron studies show that in both experiments nearly the same amount of exergy is lost while generating nearly the same amount of entropy. Guinea pig vagal motoneuron loses twofold more exergy compared to the cat models and the squid exergy loss and entropy generation were nearly tenfold compared to the guinea pig vagal motoneuron model. Thermodynamic analysis show that the dissipated energy in the dendritic tress is directly proportional with the electrotonic length, exergy loss and entropy generation. Entropy generation and exergy loss show variability not only between the vertebrate and invertebrates but also within the same class. Concurrently, single action potential Na + ion load, metabolic energy utilization and its thermodynamic aspect contributed for squid giant axon and mammalian motoneuron model. Energy demand is supplied to the neurons in the form of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Exergy destruction and entropy generation upon ATP hydrolysis are calculated. ATP utilization, exergy destruction and entropy generation showed differences in each model depending on the variations in the ion transport along the channels.


Dizziness is a common but often diagnostically difficult condition. Clinicians should focus on the timing of the events and triggers of dizziness to develop a differential diagnosis because it is difficult for patients to provide quality reports of their symptoms. The differential diagnosis is broad and includes peripheral and central causes. Peripheral etiologies can cause significant morbidity but are generally less concerning, whereas central etiologies are more urgent. The physical examination may include orthostatic blood pressure measurement, a full cardiac and neurologic examination, assessment for nystagmus, the Dix-Hallpike maneuver (for patients with triggered dizziness), and the HINTS (head-impulse, nystagmus, test of skew) examination when indicated. Laboratory testing and imaging are usually not required but can be helpful. The treatment for dizziness is dependent on the etiology of the symptoms. Canalith repositioning procedures (e.g., Epley maneuver) are the most helpful in treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Vestibular rehabilitation is helpful in treating many peripheral and central etiologies. Other etiologies of dizziness require specific treatment to address the cause. Pharmacologic intervention is limited because it often affects the ability of the central nervous system to compensate for dizziness.


Tracking the articulated human body is a challenging computer vision problem because of changes in body poses and their appearance. Pictorial structure (PS) models are widely used in 2D human pose estimation. In this work, we extend the PS models for robust 3D pose estimation, which includes two stages: multi-view human body parts detection by foreground learning and pose states updating by annealed particle filter (APF) and detection. Moreover, the image dataset F-PARSE was built for foreground training and flexible mixture of parts (FMP) model was used for foreground learning. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our foreground learning-based method.


Many studies have been done to define factors related to accident tendencies in children, but few related these tendencies to developmental lags in visual perception. This pilot study explored the possibility that such a relationship exists. Twelve Caucasian females from similar socioeconomic backgrounds and age ranges were administered the Frostig Developmental Test of Visual Perception. Performance on the perceptual test was compared to accident frequency levels for each child to determine whether or not a correlation between visual perceptual performance and accident frequency existed. Although statistically significant results were not obtained, the need for more definite research related to spatial relations, position in space, and figure ground perception was demonstrated.


Every year, many employers conduct an open season to let employees select or change their medical plans. Several factors may affect their selection, including choice of care provider and shared cost. Employees can sort out some of these distinctions by identifying the type of plan, but some plan names are unclear, such as "standard medical," "basic medical," and "traditional medical plan." Can employees guess plan types based on such names? Even more specific names like "preferred plan" and "pointof-service plan" might not tell how the plan works. Plan names may reveal some, but not complete, information. If it's an indemnity plan, what kind? Is that HMO traditional, or open-access? With many plan names so vague, how can we figure out their type? Since the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) began reporting on medical plans over 30 years ago, it has identified them by type. Of course, plans have changed quite a bit in 30 years. Today, BLS classifies medical plans into six types: Fee-for-service plan. A plan that gives participants the same reimbursement no matter what hospital or care provider they choose. Preferred provider organization. A plan that contracts with medical providers, such as hospitals and doctors, to create a network. Patients pay less if they use providers who belong to the network, or they can use providers outside the network for a higher cost. Exclusive provider organization. A plan comprising groups of hospitals and doctors that contract to provide comprehensive medical services. Patients receive coverage only for services from those providers (except in an emergency). Point-of-service plan. Such plans typically have differing coverage levels, based on where service occurs. For example, the plan pays more for service performed by a limited set of providers, less for services in a broad network of providers, and even less for services outside the network. Health maintenance organization. A plan that provides prepaid comprehensive medical care. HMOs both insure and deliver services, and patients usually live within a limited area and must get their nonemergency services within the network (except in an emergency). Open-access HMO. An HMO that covers nonemergency care outside its network for an extra cost. This issue of Beyond the Numbers explores how the BLS National Compensation Survey (NCS) uses plan features to identify these six medical plan types.


The advent of next generation sequencing methods has led to an increasing availability of large, multi-tissue datasets which contain gene expression measurements across different tissues and individuals. In this setting, variation in expression levels arises due to contributions specific to genes, tissues, individuals, and interactions thereof. Classical clustering methods are illsuited to explore these three-way interactions, and struggle to fully extract the insights into transcriptome complexity and regulation contained in the data. Thus, to exploit the multi-mode structure of the data, new methods are required. To this end, we propose a new method, called MultiCluster, based on constrained tensor decomposition which permits the investigation of transcriptome variation across individuals and tissues simultaneously. Through simulation and application to the GTEx RNA-seq data, we show that our tensor decomposition identifies three-way clusters with higher accuracy, while being 11x faster, than the competing Bayesian method. For several age-, race-, or gender-related genes, the tensor projection approach achieves increased significance over single-tissue analysis by two orders of magnitude. Our analysis finds gene modules consistent with existing knowledge while further detecting novel candidate genes exhibiting either tissue-, individual-, or tissue-by-individual specificity. These identified genes and gene modules offer bases for future study, and the uncovered multi-way specificities provide a finer, more nuanced snapshot of transcriptome variation than previously possible.


Information and Communication Technology tools are being rapidly adopted in the online learning environment for their learning effectiveness based upon theories of higher-order skill learning styles, problem-based learning, engagement, frequent feedback and persistence (element in motivation). In this study, 133 students used the tools of an online computer simulation, online discussion forum, and frequent quizzing in a networking computer science course. Students who persisted (at least 10 hours spent in the lab) and successfully developed higher order skills in the simulation (lab scores), fully engaged in the online discussion forum (discussion grades) and received frequent positive feedback (mean quizzes score) were examined for their results on the performance measures in the course (midterm exam, final exam, final grade). Significant results were found in the t-test, correlation and regression analysis between persistence (time spent in lab) and skill achievement in the computer lab simulation (lab scores). In addition, simulation skill achievement, discussion board engagement, and frequent feedback through quizzing impacted certain specific exams and overall performance, in general.


We describe the results of a very deep imaging survey of the Trapezium cluster in the IJH bands, using the UKIRT high-resolution camera UFTI. Approximately 32 per cent of the 515 point sources detected are brown dwarf candidates, including several free-floating objects with masses below the deuterium-burning (planetary) threshold at 0.013 M⊙, which are detectable because of their extreme youth. We have confidence that almost all the sources detected are cluster members, since foreground contamination is minimal in the 33-arcmin2 area surveyed, and the dense backdrop of OMC-1 obscures all background stars at these wavelengths. Extinction is calculated from the (J−H) colours, permitting accurate luminosity estimates, and temperatures are derived from the dereddened (I−J) colours. There is some evidence for a cut-off in the luminosity function below the level corresponding to several Jupiter masses, which may represent the bottom end of the initial mass function. Since star formation is complete in the Trapezium, this limit could have wide significance, if confirmed. However, it could well be an effect of the dispersal of the molecular cloud by the central O-type stars, a process for which the time-scale will vary between star formation regions.


We consider several collections of multispectral color signals and describe how linear and nonlinear methods can be used to investigate their internal structure. We use databases consisting of blackbody radiators, approximated and measured daylight spectra, multispectral images of indoor and outdoor scenes under different illumination conditions, and numerically computed color signals. We apply principal components analysis, group‐theoretical methods and three manifold learning methods: Laplacian Eigenmaps, ISOMAP, and conformal component analysis. Identification of low‐dimensional structures in these databases is important for analysis, model building and compression and we compare the results obtained by applying the algorithms to the different databases. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 17, 202–217, 2007


The striatum is a major subcortical connection hub that has been heavily implicated in a wide array of motor and cognitive functions. Here, we developed a normative multimodal, data-driven microstructural parcellation of the striatum using multiple magnetic resonance imaging-based metrics (mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, and the ratio between T1- and T2-weighted structural) from the Human Connectome Project Young Adult dataset (n=329 unrelated participants, age range: 22-35, F/M: 185/144). We further explored the biological and functional relationships of this parcellation by relating our findings to motor and cognitive performance in tasks known to involve the striatum as well as demographics. We identified 5 spatially distinct striatal components, for each hemisphere. We also show the gain in component stability when using multimodal versus unimodal metrics. Our findings suggest distinct microstructural patterns in the human striatum that are largely symmetric and that relate mostly to age and sex. Our work also highlights the putative functional relevance of these striatal components to different designations based on a Neurosynth meta-analysis.


Neighbours Poland and Germany have recently started to engage and intensify their dialogue on bilateral energy issues. This may prove to be an indispensable step forward in the future design of integrated EU energy and climate policies. The countries have found themselves on different planes with respect to EU environmental and climate policies. This paper explains the diverging approaches by focusing on the countries' respective energy situations and political priorities within the strategic energy policy triangle. The triangle is composed of energy security, cost efficiency, and sustainability. The paper explores the bilateral challenges and opportunities in finding common ground for a partnership within a fully integrated EU energy market as well as with respect to its neighbourhood.


Background and objectives Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are highly prevalent, stressful, and challenging to manage. Caregivers' approaches for handling these behaviors have implications for both care partners' well-being. Yet the specific strategies that caregivers use in their daily management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are relatively unknown. This study used in-depth focus group data to examine family caregivers' strategies for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Design As part of a larger study (NINR R01NR014200), four focus groups were conducted with a total of 26 family caregivers of older adults with dementia. Caregivers were asked to describe the strategies they use to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Data from audio-recorded sessions were transcribed, coded to identify relevant concepts, and reduced to determine major categories. Results Caregivers managed behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia through (1) modifying interactions within the care dyad (e.g., simplifying communication); (2) modifying the care environment (e.g., using written prompts); (3) activity engagement; (4) humor; (5) self-care; and (6) social support. Conclusion Family caregivers manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia using strategies to minimize stress and address the needs of both care partners. Caregivers' own accounts of these approaches reveal a window into their everyday management of difficult behaviors. The present findings generate key information for routine clinical care and targeted interventions to promote caregiver well-being.


Recently many studies have found that unemployment rate, housing price fluctuation and economic crisis would have an important influence on mental and physical health. Housing price has a significant impact on the economic and social development. Since the housing reform in 1998, the rapid development of the real estate industry has become an important factor driving China's economic cycle fluctuations. However, some scholars have found that the continuing rise in housing price has brought about a series of social and economic problems, such as reducing consumption, income inequality and so on. Therefore, does the rising housing price affect the health and welfare in urban China?Theoretically, housing price will have an effect on the health in urban China by at least three underlying mechanisms. Firstly, it would bring a positive wealth effect to the health of local residents; Secondly, the rising housing price might raise housing purchase and rental costs, and have a negative effect on residents' physical and mental health; Thirdly, housing price is also the signal of economic vitality, regional infrastructure and the public service system, it would bring down the uncertainty of future economic development and promote the health of residents. In this paper, we use the 2010−2014 wave of China Family Panel Studies(CFPS)to investigate the effect of housing price on health and the underlying mechanism in urban China.Further, we also find that housing price has a heterogeneous effect on health, which is consistent with a wealth effect, a slave effect, and economic development in the area. The positive effect of housing price on physical health is concentrated on those with two or more housing, larger housing, higher property value, without unmarried adult sons, high-income areas or first-tier cities. The negative effect of housing price on mental health is stronger for those with no housing, smaller housing, lower property value, low-income areas or non-first-tier cities. Finally, we analyze the influence path of housing price on health, and find that the rising housing price will significantly improve residents' health care utilization, increase the probability of physical exercise, and reduce smoking and drinking behaviors.This paper tries to make some contributions in the following aspects: Firstly, in order to solve the endogenous problem caused by omitted variables and reverse causality, we use the province-fixed effect, year-fixed effect, and individual province-fixed effect. Secondly, we use a number of subjective and objective indicators to measure their mental and physical health to extend the connotation of health. Thirdly, we compare the results of multiple groups, finding that housing price has different effects on the health of residents with different characteristics, and verify the three mechanisms of housing price to health. Fourthly, we also investigate the influence path of housing price on physical health, finding that the promoting effect of housing price on physical health can be attributed to the increase of regular exercise and medical utilization, and the decrease of smoking and drinking behaviors.


Hysteresis of transport properties like relative permeability (kr) can lead to computational problems and inaccuracies for various applications including CO2 sequestration and chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Computational problems in multiphase numerical simulation include phase labeling issues and path dependencies that can create discontinuities. To mitigate hysteresis, modeling kr as a state function that honors changes in physical parameters like wettability is a promising solution. In this research, we apply the state function concept to develop a physics-informed data-driven approach for predicting kr in the space of its state parameters. We extend the development of the relative permeability equation-of-state (kr-EoS) to create a predictive physically-constrained model using artificial neural networks (ANNs). We predict kr as a function of phase saturation (S) and phase connectivity (χ^), as well as the specific S-χ^ path taken during the displacement while maintaining other state parameters constant such as wettability, pore structure, and capillary number. We use numerical data generated from pore-network modeling (PNM) simulations to test the predictive capability of the EoS. Physical limits within S-χ^ space are used to constrain the model and improve its predictability outside of the region of measured data. We find that the predicted relative permeabilities result in a smooth and physically consistent estimate. Our results show that ANN can more accurately estimate kr surface compared to using a high-order polynomial response surface. With only a limited amount of drainage and imbibition data with an initial phase saturation greater than 0.7, we provide a good prediction of kr from ANN for all other initial conditions, over the entire S-χ^ space. Finally, we show that we can predict the specific path taken in the S-χ^ space along with the corresponding kr for any initial condition and flow direction, making the approach practical when phase connectivity information is unavailable. This research demonstrates the first application of a physics-informed data-driven approach for the prediction of relative permeability using ANN.


This paper looks at how the marriage metaphor structures the discourse concerning the relationship between political parties in Serbia. In January 2007, in the first general election to be held in Serbia since its union with Montenegro was dissolved in 2006, no party succeeded in gaining an absolute majority. Eventually, after more than three months of coalition talks, the main pro-reform parties agreed to form a government: the conservative and moderately nationalist right-leaning Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), together with the pro-Western Democratic Party (DS). Compiling a small data collection from the leading Serbian dailies and political weeklies we have tried to track the metaphors through highly argumentative discourse in regard to the formation of political coalitions and their break-up. The main aim of this study is to show how the metaphors may be mapped and used as a vehicle of public discourse for achieving overt or covert political and ideological objectives on the complex political scene in contemporary Serbia. We will also argue that Serbian political discourse is highly gendered, as gender roles, manifested through the assignment of wife and husband roles to political parties, are clearly delineated according to the traditional male-female dichotomy, implying stereotypical traits and patriarchal values characteristic of Serbian culture.


Context. Probing both star formation history and evolution of distant cluster galaxies is essential to evaluate the effect of dense environment on shaping the galaxy properties we observe today.
 Aims. We investigate the effect of cluster environment on the processing of the molecular gas in distant cluster galaxies. We study the molecular gas properties of two star-forming galaxies separated by 6 kpc in the projected space and belonging to a galaxy cluster selected from the Irac Shallow Cluster Survey, at a redshift z = 1.2, that is, ~ 2 Gyr after the cosmic star formation density peak. This work describes the first CO detection from 1 < z < 1.4 star-forming cluster galaxies with no clear reported evidence of active galactic nuclei.
 Methods. We exploit observations taken with the NOEMA interferometer at ~3 mm to detect CO(2−1) line emission from the two selected galaxies, unresolved by our observations.
 Results. Based on the CO(2−1) spectrum, we estimate a total molecular gas mass M(H2) = (2.2+0.50.4) × 1010 M⊙, where fully excited gas is assumed, and a dust mass Mdust < 4.2 × 108 M⊙ for the two blended sources. The two galaxies have similar stellar masses and Hα-based star formation rates (SFRs) found in previous work, as well as a large relative velocity of ~400 km s−1 estimated from the CO(2−1) line width. These findings tend to privilege a scenario where both sources contribute to the observed CO(2−1). Using the archival Spitzer MIPS flux at 24 μm we estimate an SFR (24μm) = (28+12−8) M⊙/yr for each of the two galaxies. Assuming that the two sources contribute equally to the observed CO(2−1), our analysis yields a depletion timescale of τdep = (3.9+1.4−1.8) × 108 yr, and a molecular gas to stellar mass ratio of 0.17 ± 0.13 for each of two sources, separately. We also provide a new, more precise measurement of an unknown weighted mean of the redshifts of the two galaxies, z = 1.163 ± 0.001.
 Conclusions. Our results are in overall agreement with those of other distant cluster galaxies and with model predictions for main sequence (MS) field galaxies at similar redshifts. The two target galaxies have molecular gas mass and depletion times that are marginally compatible with, but smaller than those of MS field galaxies, suggesting that the molecular gas has not been sufficiently refueled. We speculate that the cluster environment might have played a role in preventing the refueling via environmental mechanisms such as galaxy harassment, strangulation, ram-pressure, or tidal stripping. Higher-resolution and higher-frequency observations will enable us to spatially resolve the two sources and possibly distinguish between different gas processing mechanisms.


Technology has been evolving at an exponential speed in the past decade and the evidence of a dramatic change is all around
us such as self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, robotics, and many more. The fusion of physical, digital and biological worlds,
the so-called 4th industrial revolution, has impacted all industries and disciplines including healthcare. It has changed the way
we live, work, and interacts with people around the globe. Despite its numerous benefits it also brings several concerns such as
organisations failing to adapt to this shift at an equal or adequate pace. It is imperative that we grab the opportunities it presents
and together shapes a sustainable and highly productive future. The field of rehabilitation has begun to adapt to these changes and
became known as Telerehabilitation (TR). A promising field can be instrumental in aiding healthcare delivery, enhancing compliance,
and improving health outcomes and quality of life of patients. However, the development of TR has been at a much slower pace
than expected in both developing and developed countries. This article is a review of status and trends in TR and will mainly deal
with identifying challenges faced by its users, gaps and propose means for rectifying issues and for establishing cost-effectiveness.
It is thus concluded that there should be future studies of high quality, analysing its cost effectiveness and cost benefit. Also, the
challenges could be overcome by a combination of face to face delivery and TR.


Many identity-based digital signature schemes using bilinear pairings have been proposed. But the relative computation cost of the pairing is approximately twenty times higher than that of the scalar multiplication over elliptic curve group. In order to save the running time and the size of the signature, we propose an identity based signature scheme without bilinear pairings. With both the running time and the size of the signature being saved greatly, our scheme is more practical than the previous related schemes for practical application.


Hospitals represent a promising locus for preventing recurrent interpersonal violence and its psychological sequella. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among victims of interpersonal violence participating in a hospital-based violence intervention program. Participants completed PTSD and ACE screenings four to six weeks after violent injury, and data were exported from a case management database for analysis. Of the 35 program participants who completed the ACE and/or PTSD screenings, 75.0% met full diagnostic criteria for PTSD, with a larger proportion meeting diagnostic criteria for symptom-specific clusters. For the ACE screening, 56.3% reported three or more ACEs, 34.5% reported five or more ACEs, and 18.8% reported seven or more ACEs. The median ACE score was 3.5. These findings underscore the importance of trauma-informed approaches to violence prevention in urban hospitals and have implications for emergency medicine research and policy.


This guide is a starting point for research related to applied mathematics, mathematical sciences, biomathematics, and operations research at Florida Tech.


We used a suite of techniques, including those emulating compositional data sets obtained from Mars orbit and obtainable at the Mars surface, to examine aqueous alteration of basaltic rocks from Iceland as a mineralogic and geochemical analog for Noachian environments on Mars. A sample suite was collected for laboratory measurement of (1) whole-rock visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance and thermal infrared (TIR) emission spectra; (2) VNIR and TIR reflectance spectra of particle-size separates derived from the bulk rock and from materials extracted from fractures/vesicles; (3) X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns for determination of quantitative modal mineralogy; (4) major element chemistry using flux fusion of whole-rock powders; and (5) electron microprobe analyses of minerals in thin sections. Conclusions about aqueous alteration can be influenced by technique. For these basalts, whole-rock chemical data showed scant evidence for chemical fractionation, but TIR, VNIR, and XRD measurements identified distinctive assemblages of hydrous silicate minerals, differing by sample. XRD provided the most complete and accurate quantitative determination of sample mineralogy. However, VNIR spectroscopy was the technique most useful for determining composition of low-abundance smectite clays, and TIR spectroscopy was the most useful for recognizing hydrated silicates in thin surface coatings. High spatial resolution mineralogical and chemical data sets were useful for understanding the texture and distribution of alteration products and variations in fluid chemistry. No single approach provides a complete assessment of the environment of alteration, demonstrating the importance of employing multiple, synergistic mineralogical and geochemical techniques and instruments in exploration of rock strata from aqueous paleoenvironments on Mars.


Chitosan (an aminopolysaccharide), cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, is very efficient for Pd(II) and Pt(IV) recovery from acidic solutions (pH 2). Due to poorly porous properties, it is necessary to condition the biopolymer as hydrogels. The uncontrolled drying of hydrogels depreciates the diffusion properties of original materials. A different method (to the acidic dissolving/alkaline neutralization procedure) has been used: after chitosan dissolving in acetic acid solution, the viscous solution was dropped into an ionotropic gelling solution (polyphosphate and glutaraldehyde to form stable gel beads with improved porosity. The restriction of diffusion properties due to drying step was less drastic with the modified procedure: a few hours were sufficient for reaching equilibrium while more than two days were required for standard material


Global optimization of decision trees has shown to be promising in terms of accuracy, size, and consequently human comprehensibility. However, many of the methods used rely on general-purpose solvers for which scalability remains an issue. Dynamic programming methods have been shown to scale much better because they exploit the tree structure by solving subtrees as independent subproblems. However, this only works when an objective can be optimized separately for subtrees. We explore this relationship in detail and show necessary and sufficient conditions for such separability and generalize previous dynamic programming approaches into a framework that can optimize any combination of separable objectives and constraints. Experiments on four application domains show the general applicability of this framework, while outperforming the scalability of general-purpose solvers by a large margin.


Purpose: Research linking health status and healthcare access does not clearly establish the relative impact of healthcare coverage versus healthcare cost for health status outcomes, especially for middle-aged women. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether general, physical, and mental health status outcomes differed by healthcare coverage or healthcare cost in multiple samples of middle-aged females.
Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2015 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for females aged 35-54 from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. To establish patterns in relations, multiple logistic regression analysis by state assessed the relationships separately for general health, mental health, and physical health with healthcare coverage and healthcare cost while controlling for other health and demographic factors.
Results: Most participants reported good general health status (73-79%), and about half reported good physical health status (54-59%) and good mental health status (54-58%) despite also reporting two or more health conditions (47-53%). In addition, most participants reported having healthcare coverage (82-92%) and not having cost preclude doctors' visits (74-82%). The results of adjusted analysis indicated that good general, mental, and physical health status outcomes were inversely related to healthcare cost in three of four states and to two or more health conditions in all four states. In addition, good general health status and physical health status were related positively to income level in 3 of 4 states.
Conclusion: Overall, general, physical, and mental health status outcomes in middle aged women showed consistent patterns of relations with healthcare cost across similar samples, but not to healthcare coverage. In addition, all three health status outcomes were related to multiple health conditions, and general and physical health were related to income level. Although this study lacked specific information for healthcare concerns and costs for middleaged women, providers and policy makers should consider the costs of health management for middle-aged female patients, especially in low income areas.


Even though the spatial competition is a crucial aspect of the competitive strategy of firms, it is still little approached in the competitive and marketing strategy literature. As such, the association between formal spatial models and thee practice of spatial competition between firms should be approached. Addressing this gap in this article, we propose a more formal view of the spatial competition. Based on the concepts of the value of displacement for the customer and the value of location we present several aspects related to the difference in the location of outlets in a hypothetical city. Several measures such as market share, competitive advantage, and value of location, are calculated in this model. This article opens a new perspective to study the competitive positioning of firms in spatial markets.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a survey examining the factors that affect compliance with accounting standards by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the transitional economy of Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach - The study is in the form of a postal questionnaire survey with accounting practitioners working in SMEs in Vietnam. Findings - The paper reveals that SMEs' compliance with accounting standards is limited. An analysis of empirical evidence finds that compliance with accounting standards was largely a legal issue and SMEs perceived little benefits from that. Legal requirements and perceptions of external uses of accounting information were the main drivers of the companies' compliance with accounting standards. The perception of cost-benefit relationship and the management and accounting skills had a limited impact on SMEs' compliance with accounting standards. Research limitations/implications - Since the study focuses on accounting practitioners in a transitional economy, the generalisability of the research findings is highly contextual and restricted. Practical implications - Legal requirements were the main factor affecting the SMEs' compliance with accounting standards. SMEs lacked accounting skills and infrastructure to implement accounting regulations and standards. The accountants were not convinced of costs and benefits associated with the implementation of the accounting standards. Originality/value - The study contributes to the light literature of accounting standards for SMEs by providing empirical evidence on the practice of accounting by SMEs in transitional economies. The paper reveals the relevance of accounting standards to SMEs and how the application of these standards affects their reporting practices.


Neurohistological, newchistochemical and ultrastructural analysis in pia mater and brain cortex auditory zone in tumors of hypothalamo-hypophyseal localization (12 patients) and dozaged experimental influence on hypothalamus (60 rabbits with 30 control and 30 experimental ones) allowed to establish and follow up morphofunctional and pathological changes. The former appeared previously in adrenergic nerve structures of pia mater and cortical vascular bed and neuroglia, the latter--in cortical neurons. The results obtained may be used in otoneurology and neurosurgery in elucidation certain syndromes genesis, acoustic ones included in patients with tumors of mentioned localisation, directly influencing hypothalamic area.


Lane departure warning system used in vehicles has recently become very popular and is about to become a vital component in advanced driver assistance systems. The performance of this system is directly related to lane detection accuracy. In this study, a fuzzy inference system-based filter for robust lane detection is proposed. The proposed filter has three input parameters which are as follows: the difference between a pixel and its left and right neighbours at a certain distance along the horizontal direction and standard deviation of the pixels between the left and right neighbours. The parameters of the proposed fuzzy filter are determined in a learning phase by taking challenging scenarios such as varying lighting conditions, shadows, and road cracks. Experimental results reveal that the proposed method outperforms existing lane detection filters when integrated into a lane detection system. Since the proposed approach is computationally lightweight, it is suitable for real-time devices and applications.


The level of vestibular stability (tolerance to the double rotation test according to I. I. Bryanov) was compared with the pattern of changes in the heart rate and arterial pressure during exercise tests (20 squatting per 30 sec). The test subjects were 136 healthy male volunteers--representatives of different professions, aged 21--40. The subjects with high vestibular stability showed greater changes in heart rate (+29%) and a relatively stable diastolic pressure. The subjects with low vestibular stability displayed, on the contrary, greater changes in the diastolic (-9%) and pulse (+71%) pressure and a relatively low increase in heart rate. The time of recovery of the pressure level was significantly longer in the susceptible people. The possibility of predicting vestibular tolerance on the basis of responses to exercise tests was explored. Mathematical formulas of the theory of image recognition were used to develop a rule that makes it possible to identify 84.4% subjects with low vestibular stability in a given group.


Abstract This paper describes a novel Monte Carlo based random walk to compute PageRanks of nodes in a large graph on a single PC. The target graphs of this paper are ones whose size is larger than the physical memory. In such an environment, memory management is a difficult task for simulating the random walk among the nodes. We propose a novel method that partitions the graph into subgraphs in order to make them fit into the physical memory, and conducts the random walk for each subgraph. By evaluating the walks lazily, we can conduct the walks only in a subgraph and approximate the random walk by rotating the subgraphs. In computational experiments, the proposed method exhibits good performance for existing large graphs with several passes of the graph data.


Background: Hospital administrative health data create separate records for each hospital stay of patients. Treating a hospital transfer as a readmission could lead to biased results in health service research. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We used the hospital discharge abstract database in 2013 from Alberta, Canada. Transfer cases were defined by transfer institution code and were used as the reference standard. Four time gaps between 2 hospitalizations (6, 9, 12, and 24 h) and 2 day gaps between hospitalizations [same day (up to 24 h), ⩽1 d (up to 48 h)] were used to identify transfer cases. We compared the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of 6 definitions across different categories of sex, age, and location of residence. Readmission rates within 30 days were compared after episodes of care were defined at the different time gaps. Results: Among the 6 definitions, sensitivity ranged from 93.3% to 98.7% and PPV ranged from 86.4% to 96%. The time gap of 9 hours had the optimal balance of sensitivity and PPV. The time gaps of same day (up to 24 h) and 9 hours had comparable 30-day readmission rates as the transfer indicator after defining episode of care. Conclusions: We recommend the use of a time gap of 9 hours between 2 hospitalizations to define hospital transfer in inpatient databases. When admission or discharge time is not available in the database, a time gap of same day (up to 24 h) can be used to define hospital transfer.


Convection is often assumed to be controlled by the simultaneous environmental fields. But to what extent does it also remember its past behavior? This study proposes a new framework in which the memory of previous convective-scale behavior, "microstate memory," is distinguished from macrostate memory, and conducts numerical experiments to reveal these memory types. A suite of idealized, cloud-resolving radiative–convective equilibrium simulations in a 200-km square domain is performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. Three deep convective cases are analyzed: unorganized, organized by low-level wind shear, and self-aggregated. The systematic responses to sudden horizontal homogenization of various fields, in various atmospheric layers, designed to eliminate their specific microstructure, are compared in terms of precipitation change and time of recovery to equilibrium. Results imply a substantial role for microstate memory. Across organization types, microstructure in water vapor and temperature has a larger and longer-lasting effect on convection than in winds or hydrometeors. Microstructure in the subcloud layer or the shallow cloud layer has more impact than in the free troposphere. The recovery time scale dramatically increases from unorganized (2–3 h) to organized cases (24 h or more). Longer-time-scale adjustments also occur and appear to involve both small-scale structures and domain-mean fields. These results indicate that most convective microstate memory is stored in low-level thermodynamic structures, potentially involving cold pools and hot thermals. This memory appears strongly enhanced by convective organization. Implications of these results for parameterizing convection are discussed.