This study identifies an interaction between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) SM protein and cellular helicase DHX9, exploring the roles that this interaction plays in viral infection and host defenses. Whereas most previous studies established DHX9 as a proviral factor, we demonstrate that DHX9 may act as an inhibitor of EBV virion production. DHX9 enhanced innate antiviral pathways active against EBV and was needed for maximal expression of several interferon-induced genes. We show that SM binds to and colocalizes DHX9 and may counteract the antiviral function of DHX9. These data indicate that DHX9 possesses antiviral activity and that SM may suppress the antiviral functions of DHX9 through this association. Our study presents a novel host-pathogen interaction between EBV and the host cell. ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) SM protein is an RNA-binding protein that has multiple posttranscriptional gene regulatory functions essential for EBV lytic replication. In this study, we identified an interaction between SM and DHX9, a DExH-box helicase family member, by mass spectrometry and coimmunoprecipitation. DHX9 participates in many cellular pathways involving RNA, including transcription, processing, transport, and translation. DHX9 enhances virus production or infectivity of a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses. Surprisingly, an increase in EBV late gene expression and virion production occurred upon knockdown of DHX9. To further characterize the SM-DHX9 interaction, we performed immunofluorescence microscopy of EBV-infected cells and found that DHX9 partially colocalized with SM in nuclear foci during EBV lytic replication. However, the positive effect of DHX9 depletion on EBV lytic gene expression was not confined to SM-dependent genes, indicating that the antiviral effect of DHX9 was not mediated through its effects on SM. DHX9 enhanced activation of innate antiviral pathways comprised of several interferon-stimulated genes that are active against EBV. SM inhibited the transcription-activating function of DHX9, which acts through cAMP response elements (CREs), suggesting that SM may also act to counteract DHX9's antiviral functions during lytic replication. IMPORTANCE This study identifies an interaction between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) SM protein and cellular helicase DHX9, exploring the roles that this interaction plays in viral infection and host defenses. Whereas most previous studies established DHX9 as a proviral factor, we demonstrate that DHX9 may act as an inhibitor of EBV virion production. DHX9 enhanced innate antiviral pathways active against EBV and was needed for maximal expression of several interferon-induced genes. We show that SM binds to and colocalizes DHX9 and may counteract the antiviral function of DHX9. These data indicate that DHX9 possesses antiviral activity and that SM may suppress the antiviral functions of DHX9 through this association. Our study presents a novel host-pathogen interaction between EBV and the host cell.


The von Karman-Millikan theory of laminar boundary layers presented in NACA Technical Report No. 504 is applied to the laminar boundary layer about an elliptic cylinder on which boundary-layer and pressure-distribution measurements were made. An outline of the procedure of the von Karman-Millikan method is given. Good agreement is obtained between the calculated and experimental results, indicating that the method may be applied generally to the laminar boundary layer about any body provided that an experimentally determined pressure distribution is available. It appears that for all Reynolds Number above 24,000 the separation point for the elliptic cylinder should occur at a constant distance behind the point of minimum pressure, provided that the boundary layer does not become turbulent.


The direction of π-stacking in a polymer thin film is crucially important in applications of semiconducting polymers. Two π-stacking configurations, "edge-on" and "face-on", are most important in applications of semiconducting polymers. However, the molecular-level mechanism of how these configurations are selected is not clear. In this study, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the π-stacking orientations in solution thin films of the donor–acceptor (D–A) semiconducting polymer PNTz4T. Our simulation results showed that the PNTz4T polymers spontaneously π-stacked in an edge-on configuration near the air–PNTz4T/DCB solution interface. Our simulations using a model substrate surface showed that the PNTz4T alignment near the substrate surface was dependent on the substrate interaction strength, i.e., the orientation changed from edge-on to face-on with increasing substrate interaction strength. These results imply that the edge-on and face-on configurations are simply selected by the interaction energetics. We also investigated the effects of blending a fullerene derivative, PC61BM, on the π-stacking orientation of PNTz4T via MD simulations.


CTSRC(cold-formed thin-walled steel reinforced concrete) structure system is one new type of industrial structure system,which uses the cold-formed thin-walled steel to replace the vertical steel bars in common reinforced concrete shear walls. This paper conducts some study on the shear behavior of walls of high rise civil building. Experiment study on both one low CTSRC and one low RC wall of equivalent reinforcement subjected to low-cycle reversed horizontal load are tested, which includes description of experinment pheonomenon, analysis of loading and failure model, load-displacement hysteresis loop curves, load-displacement skeleton curves and analysis of strain. The experiment results indicate that under the same condition there is no difference between the shear property of CTSRC and RC wall basically on failure mode and shear behavior. At last, this paper provides some suggestions about further research contents of CTSRC structure system.


This is the first detailed study on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Hospital data for PCIs carried out between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 2002 are analysed. The study explores trends in PCI rates by selected socio-demographic factors, the utilisation of angioplasties vis-a-vis stents, emergency admissions, and selected coexisting conditions which determine the disease status of PCI patients. Logistic regression models are used to study the medical conditions that require both PCI and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The PCI rate has grown rapidly at 12.1% per annum, with a particularly rapid increase for persons aged 75+. The rate of multiple stent utilisation increased at 4.6% per annum. Pacific-born and Middle-Eastern-born patients are more than twice as likely as the Australian-born to have diabetes. Factors affecting failure of PCI requiring CABG include perforation and multi-vessel disease. PCI services in public hospitals need to be increased to facilitate the availability of these procedures to all segments of the population, as do targeted community-level programmes to educate high-risk groups in the control of heart diseases.


Recirculation is considered as an dual effective way of processing the leachate and accelerating the stabilization of landfill in many treatment because of less land occupation, low investment and simple operation. Previous researches shows that recirculation can improve microenviorment of microbial anaerobic digestion by increasing the moisture content of landfill. The mathematical model of moisture migration in the landfill was established with Multi-physics finite element analysis software in this paper. The simulation result showed that 1) moisture content would decrease to 29% with no leachate recirculation condition 2) hydraulic loads and types of recirculation both had influences on water distribution in landfill sites with leachate recirculation.


BCN films were prepared with unbalanced magnetron sputtering boron carbide film followed by nitrogen plasma-based ion implantation at different voltages on Si substrate. The implantation voltages vary from 10 kV to 50 kV. The chemical states of B, C and N of the films were studied with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The nano-hardness and elastic modulus of films were measured by Nano-Indenter. The results showed that amorphous BCN films formed in the nitrogen implanted layer. The amorphous peak becomes obvious with increasing of the implanted voltage when the voltage is under of 40 kV. The Nano-Indenter measurement showed that the B-C bond content and the disorder degree affect the hardness and modulus.


Among the wide variety of biotic interactions, animal-mediated pollination plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the integrity of plant communities. Thus, there is increasing concern about the possible effects that the growing loss of pollinators (i.e., pollinator crisis phenomenon) might have on plant communities. Recent studies revealed that pollination interactions often occur at the landscape scale, with plant species of different communities interacting through pollinator sharing. Saltmarshes provide a suitable example of plant communities spatially co-occurring at the landscape scale, with the micro-topography determining a precise zonation of ecologically distinct halophytic communities. However, little is still known about pollination interactions in saltmarshes. The aim of the present study was to assess which halophytic community contribute best to pollinator species richness in saltmarshes and whether plant species of different halophytic communities interact through pollinator sharing. To this aim we placed 20 permanent plots per plant community and monitored pollination interactions between plants and pollinators once a month during the overall flowering season. Our results revealed that animal-mediated pollination occurred in only two halophytic communities, with three species depending on animals for their pollination. When comparing halophytic communities in terms of richness of pollinator species, the vegetation of sandbanks, mudflats and sandflats emerged as the richest one. Animal-pollinated species of saltmarshes only partially shared pollinator species, revealing an overall low exchange of pollinators between different halophytic communities. In conclusion, the high complementarity in the spectrum of pollinators showed by animal-pollinated species of different halophytic communities makes all halophytic communities hosting animal-pollinated species important for the conservation of pollinators.


Job satisfaction is one of the most critical factors for the performance of employees and ultimately for organizational or institutional performance; for the reason this was considered as the base for conducting this study. The purpose of the study is to describe the perception of the job satisfaction and the association of different factors with the level of job satisfaction among teachers in different faculties of Northeast Normal University. Five Point-Likert Scale Questionnaire is used to collect the data and SPSS is used for data analysis. Hypothesis development and testing is also conducted; to quantify the results. The results of the study are analyzed on the three (gender, age groups and faculties) demographic factors of the teacher to know the differences of job satisfaction among these demographic factors. This study is only limited the to eight faculties in Northeast Normal University; China.


ABSTRACT This paper provides an evaluation of a hydro-acoustic technique for efficient quantification of the bedload transport in riverine environments. Stationary bedload measurements were conducted simultaneously at different study sites, using three different acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) working at four different frequencies. The raw apparent bedload velocities were de-spiked and filtered in a streamwise direction. Then, functional correlations were observed between the magnitudes of the apparent velocities and the bedload transport rates measured by the conventional bedload sampler. Each ADCP yielded different results because of the different frequency backscatter sensitivity and acoustic penetration in the active bedload layer. In addition to the frequency, other acoustic parameters such as the percentage of the filtered data, transducers width, beam opening angle, beam-grazing angle and the pulse length, contributed to the acoustic bedload sampling. The influence of these parameters is examined, and recommendations are given for the performance and limitations of each instrument.


A new low voltage flash circuit model is presented. This SPICE model is used to identify techniques for reducing the average power dissipated in a flash memory during a programming cycle. The AND flash memory cell is used in this analysis. For a selected bitcell in a NOR block, the power dissipated is dominated by a band-to-band transient current. SPICE simulations show that this power can be reduced by decreasing the charge pump's slew rate and the erase threshold voltage. In an unselected bitcell, the power dissipated is the sum of band-to-band and drain charging currents. Simulations show that this power can be reduced by increasing the positive word line bias applied to unselected bitcells in the NOR block.


The fatigue life, cyclic deformation behavior and microstructure of ultra-fine grained (UFG) copper produced by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) were tested and observed in present work. Development of surface relief and fracture surfaces were observed by means of scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the higher tensile strength UFG copper has lower ductility and its strain controlled cyclic properties are worse while comparing with those of lower strength CG counterpart. All the ECAP specimens display obvious cyclic softening behavior under the applied strain range. The cyclic softening ratio increases with increasing strain amplitude. The cyclic hysteresis loops of UFG Cu shows the tension and compression peak stresses decreased gradually with number of cycles. The formation of SBs and grain boundary sliding is the main factor causing crack nucleation as well as premature failure.


The large and detailed survey by Meadow et al.1 2 on the incidence of allergic features in steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) differs in some ways from our recent findings.3 In 42 SRNS children associated with minimal glomerular changes we could not find a statistically significant difference between the frequency of allergic disorders, the serum levels of total IgE, and the incidence of allergen specific IgE antibodies in serum as detected by RAST,* and furthermore there were fewer positive skin prick tests. Our data do not support the hypothesis that IgE mediated hypersensitivity plays a general role in the pathogenesis of SRNS, but they strengthen the view that in a small group of children with SRNS who are characterised by the coincidence of a clear history of allergy, a positive skin prick test, and high specific IgE antibodies to certain allergens, this pathogenesis must be considered. Some discrepancies between the results of Meadow et al. and our own study must be owing to differences in the selection of patients and control subjects as well as to the interpretation of skin tests and laboratory data. As in other investigations4 the great majority of children in the Leeds study had a SRNS characterised by frequent relapses, whereas 26% of our patients were non-relapsers or ones who seldom relapsed in whom the proportion of positive atopic histories or abnormal allergic tests was low. Of 16 cases in our steroid-dependent group (which had the highest number of relapses) five were labelled as atopic, a proportion similar to that in the whole British series.1 The control population studied by Meadow et al. may be biased by the exclusion of children with primary atopy, in contrast to our own controls. Our criteria for accepting a skin test or RAST as pathological were stricter; a weal of 2 mm diameter regarded by Meadow et al. as a positive skin test was classified as 1+ (negative) by us. Results of RASTs were graded in our study, and classified as pathological only if


In response to the absence of a national policy in the United States for guiding the influx of international students, a model self-study process was created to guide community colleges in developing such a policy. The model is designed to help colleges consider issues related to the economics of educating foreign students, the socio-organizational issues of students on U.S. campuses, and educational issues. Specific questions in the self-study help colleges determine the following: (1) if the institutional mission includes or should include educating international students; (2) if or under what conditions the college should offer scholarship, financial aid, or work study incentives to those students; (3) if a distinction should be made between students studying under the auspices of the federal government and independent students; (4) if the college should recruit international students; (5) if the presence of international students might result in reduced access for other students; (6) what the optimal number of international students might be; (7) the suitability of educational practices and faculty; (8) the desirability of using international students to maintain programs that might otherwise be closed due to low enrollment; (9) the acceptability of providing international students with skills that they might later use in economic or even military competition against the United States; (10) if student services should be required to bear the extra costs of services for international students; and (11) if international athletes should be awarded scholarships. Contains 27 references. (BCY) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Clarifying Institutional Policy Toward International Students: A Community College Self-Study Model


Today the hospitality industry tends to believe that it started in the last century. However, from the research reported upon in this paper it is certainly evident that hospitality has a much longer history, honourable tradition, and rich heritage which stretches into antiquity. Modern etymology is a reflection of the past. The past then provides the basis for modern hospitality language. It is suggested therefore that the origins of hospitality, rather than being of esoteric interest, are in fact reflected and celebrated in the language of today. Therefore it is proposed that study of the origins of hospitality traditions, ethics, manners, and etiquette provide for a rich, deep, and fertile area of exploration which can contribute value to the modern commercial hospitality industry.


The use of genetically modified (GM) animals in biomedical research has increased during recent years and its ethical aspects have been subject to ongoing academic discussion. In order to reinforce this discussion, we analysed applications submitted to animal ethics committees in Sweden during 2002. The aim was to investigate the researchers' statements concerning the production and use of GM animals, as well as the committees' assessments of the applications. For our analysis, we constructed an analytic form. In part, we included the questions and categories of the mandatory application form, noting for example species, degree of severity regarding pain and distress, the management of pain, and endpoints. In addition, we included our own specific questions and categories, and classified the applications accordingly. In particular we focused on the methods of GM animal production and on the expected clinical symptoms attributable to genetic modification and experimental use. Our analysis, which was partly quantitative and partly qualitative, revealed that applications were often approved by the committees despite containing insufficient information regarding ethically relevant aspects, that the arguments for using GM animals were often unclear, and that some applicants indicated awareness of possible unintentional welfare effects attributable to genetic modification. In more than 36% of the applications, obvious or minor clinical symptoms attibutable to genetic modification were expected. However, we also noted that many applicants emphasised that certain GM animals were to be used without the expectation that the animals would display any clinical symptoms. This was obviously viewed as an ethical advantage.


Quinocetone (QCT), a member of the quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxides (QdNOs) family, can cause genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity, however, the precise molecular mechanisms of QCT are unclear. This present study investigated the protective effect of quercetin on QCT-induced cytotoxicity and the underlying molecular mechanisms in human L02 and HepG2 cells. The results showed that quercetin treatment (at 7.5–30 μM) significantly improved QCT-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damage in human L02 and HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, quercetin treatment at 30 μM significantly inhibited QCT-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, an increase in the expression of the CytC protein and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and an increase in caspases-9 and -3 activity, and finally improved cell apoptosis. Quercetin pretreatment promoted the expression of the phosphorylation of p38, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins. Pharmacological inhibition of p38 significantly inhibited quercetin-mediated activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Consistently, pharmacological inhibitions of the Nrf2 or p38 pathways both promoted QCT-induced cytotoxicity and partly abolished the protective effects of quercetin. In conclusion, for the first time, our results reveal that quercetin could improve QCT-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis by activating the p38/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting the ROS/mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Our study highlights that quercetin may be a promising candidate for preventing QdNOs-induced cytotoxicity in humans or animals.


1. Electrical machines with silent rotor

In the recent decades, substantial developments on the electrical machines with silent rotors resulted in increase their performance, reliability and ease their manufacturability as well as reduce their cost. Silent rotor machines include magnet-less topology (switched reluctance) [1], flux reversal permanent magnet topologies (flux switching/switched flux, doubly silent and flux reversal) [2] and variable flux topologies also known as hybrid AC/DC machines [3].
All the above-mentioned electrical machines have the same rotor structure shown in Figure 1. The rotor is gear-shaped made of one solid piece of ferromagnetic material. The rotor does not consist of any magnets or winding. Therefore, it is simple, easy to manufacture and these topologies are characterised by easy heat removal since all the active parts (magnets and winding) are located in the stator


Burkholderia cepacia isolates were obtained from the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients or isolated from the environment. The isolates were characterised phenotypically by determining antibiotic resistance profiles and their ability to macerate onion tissue, and genetically by PCR ribotyping and macro-restriction analysis (genome fingerprinting). The replicon (chromosomal) organisation was determined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the presence of plasmids was also investigated. Plasmid transfer by conjugation was also investigated. A high degree of genetic and phenotypic variation was found both within and between clinical and environmental populations of B. cepacia. Environmental isolates were generally less resistant to antibiotics but showed greater ability to macerate onion tissue. Genetic characterisation showed little evidence of acquisition of B. cepacia from the environment by CF patients, but revealed strong evidence supporting person-to-person transmission of B. cepacia in the Cardiff CF centre and other European centres. Two or more chromosomes were found in 93 % of B. cepacia isolates tested, and were also found in other closely related species suggesting such organisation may be common in P-2 proteobacteria. Plasmids, often in excess of 100 kb, were found to be harboured in 52 % of isolates, though were more commonly found in CF isolates (65 % of isolates) than environmental isolates (23 % of isolates). Plasmid transfer by conjugation was demonstrated into, between and from B. cepacia strains. Evidence of plasmids encoding antibiotic resistance was also found.


Abstract Knapik, JJ, Sharp, MA, and Steelman, RA. Secular trends in the physical fitness of United States Army recruits on entry to service, 1975–2013. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 2030–2052, 2017—A systematic literature search was conducted to identify and analyze articles that reported on physical fitness of new US Army recruits. The National Library of Medicine's PubMed and the Defense Technical Information Center were searched using the keywords (military personnel OR trainee OR recruit OR soldier) AND (physical fitness OR strength OR endurance OR flexibility OR balance OR coordination OR muscle contraction OR running OR exercise OR physical conditioning). Reference lists of obtained articles and contact with authors enhanced the search. Studies were selected if they involved recruits in Basic Combat Training or One-Station Unit Training, provided a quantitative assessment of at least one fitness measure, and the fitness measure(s) were obtained early in training. Average values for each fitness measure were obtained, plotted by the year of data collection, and fitted to linear regression models (fitness measure × year). Fifty-three articles met the review criteria. Regression analysis indicated little temporal change in height, but body weight, body mass index, body fat, and fat-free mass increased over time. Limited V[Combining Dot Above]O2max data suggested no temporal change in male recruits, but those in female recruits V[Combining Dot Above]O2max seem to have slightly improved. Apparently contradicting the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max findings, performance on endurance runs (1- and 2-mile) declined, possibly because of the increase in body weight. Muscular endurance (push-ups, sit-ups) demonstrated little systematic change over time. Limited but multiple measures of muscular strength suggest a temporal increase in strength. Specific components of US Army recruit fitness seem to have changed over time.


Since the presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto, affordable housing developments in Mexico have been produced in a massive, unsustainable scale. The speed at which these developments are produced equates to the carelessness that goes into their planning. At large, the developments' monotonous design is aesthetically dehumanizing and fails to promote a sense of community. These developments lack basic infrastructure, and their residents have abandoned them, which has incentivized increased criminal activity. In this paper, I will be looking at successful models of affordable housing globally, exploring the histories of communal living, and function of architectural collages. Based on my findings, I will propose and present aspects which I think are critical to consider before creating a master plan for a social housing development. To gain access to the most diverse audience possible, I have displayed these considerations in collages. Each collage will highlight a specific aspect of the built environment of which I present (putting green areas at the forefront of design, communal kitchens and bathrooms, nightlights, community center/spiritual place etc.).


We develop a general technique for the quantitative analysis of iterative distributed load balancing schemes. We illustrate the technique by studying two simple, intuitively appealing models that are prevalent in the literature: the diffusive paradigm, and periodic balancing circuits (or the dimension exchange paradigm). It is well known that such load balancing schemes can be roughly modeled by Markov chains, but also that this approximation can be quite inaccurate. Our main contribution is an effective way of characterizing the deviation between the actual loads and the distribution generated by a related Markov chain, in terms of a natural quantity which we call the local divergence. We apply this technique to obtain bounds on the number of rounds required to achieve coarse balancing in general networks, cycles and meshes in these models. For balancing circuits, we also present bounds for the stronger requirement of perfect balancing, or counting.


Natural Gas (NG) can be used as fuel for several forms of transport. NG converted into liquid is called Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). LNG has a favourable energy density for ease of transport and storage. On the other hand, LNG is cryogenic at -162 °C. To use LNG as fuel, it is required to use an LNG fuel system. An LNG fuel system consists mainly of a cryogenic tank, for storage, and a regasification unit to convert LNG to NG. Cryonorm Systems B.V. is a designer and supplier of such LNG fuel systems for several forms of transport. In addition to this LNG fuel system, another type of engine is required. Cryonorm already designed and supplied four inland waterway (IWW) vessels with a marine LNG fuel system. LNG as fuel was introduced by seagoing vessels, though there is also a propensity to move to LNG as fuel for IWW vessels. LNG as fuel for IWW vessels is the subject of investigation in this thesis, with the aim to define the business opportunities of LNG fuel systems for IWW vessels in different scenarios for Cryonorm. In this research, the financial viability of LNG as fuel for inland waterway vessels is investigated. The financial viability depends mainly on fuel consumption, fuel prices and the required financial resources to move to LNG as fuel. With this investigation, the necessary preconditions in which shipping companies possibly will move to LNG as fuel are determined. These preconditions consist of the financial eligibility of inland waterway vessels and the extent to which obstacles, such as LNG bunkering logistics, have to be overcome. With this determination, scenarios are developed in which the business opportunities of LNG fuel systems for inland waterway vessels for Cryonorm are rendered for the next 10 years.


Juvenile polyposis syndrome is an autosomal dominant polyposis syndrome. It is characterized by predisposition to multiple juvenile polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and is associated with an increased risk of colorectal and ventricular cancer. Patients and at risk family members should be offered surveillance. This article discusses clinical features and surveillance based on the current literature.


We report the detection, validation and analysis of SNPs in the plant-pathogen interaction between cacao and Moniliophthora perniciosa ESTs using resequencing. This analysis in 73 EST sequences allowed the identification of 185 SNPs, 57% of them corresponding to transversion, 29% to transition and 14% to indels. The ESTs containing SNPs were classified into 14 main functional categories. After validation, 91 SNPs were confirmed, categorized and the parameters of nucleotide diversity and haplotype were calculated. Haplotype-based gene diversity and polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.559 to 0.56 and 0.115 to 0.12; respectively. Also, it was the advantage when considering haplotypes structure for each locus in place of single SNPs. Most of the gene fragments had a major haplotype combined to a series of low frequency haplotypes. Thus, the re-sequencing approach proved to be a valuable resource to identify useful SNPs for wide genetic applications. Furthermore, the cacao genome sequence availability allow a positional selection of DNA fragments to be re-sequenced enhancing the usefulness of the discovered SNPs. These results indicate the potential use of SNPs markers to identify allelic status of cacao resistance genes through marker-assisted selection to support the development of promising genotypes with high resistance to witch's broom disease. (Resume d'auteur)


Several ion channels are thought to facilitate colorectal afferent neuron sensitization, which contributes to abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In the present work, I hypothesized that two such channels – TRPV1 and P2X3 – cooperate to mediate colorectal pain and hypersensitivity. To test this, I employed TRPV1-P2X3 double knockout (TPDKO) mice and pharmacological antagonists and evaluated combined channel contributions to whole- organism responses to colorectal distension (CRD) and afferent fiber responses to colorectal stretch. Baseline responses to CRD were unexpectedly greater in TPDKO compared with control mice, but zymosan-produced CRD hypersensitivity was absent in TPDKO mice. Relative to control mice, proportions of afferent mechano-sensitive and -insensitive classes were not different in TPDKO mice. Whereas responses of mucosal and serosal class afferents to mechanical probing were unaffected, responses of muscular (but not muscular/mucosal) afferents to stretch were significantly attenuated in TPDKO mice as was sensitization by inflammatory soup of both muscular and muscular/mucosal afferents. In pharmacological studies, the TRPV1 antagonist A889425 and P2X3 antagonist TNP-ATP, alone and in combination, applied onto stretch-sensitive afferent endings attenuated afferent responses to stretch; combined antagonism produced greater attenuation. In the aggregate, these observations suggest that: (1) genetic manipulation of TRPV1 and P2X3 leads to reduction in colorectal mechanosensation peripherally and compensatory changes and/or disinhibition of other channels centrally and (2) combined pharmacological antagonism produces more robust attenuation of mechanosensation peripherally than single antagonism. The relative importance of these channels appears to be enhanced in hypersensitivity, highlighting the potential utility of multi-target pharmacotherapy in IBS.


This paper presents the analytical calculation of conduction and switching losses for a novel matrix-z-source converter and a conventional VSI converter respectively for automotive ISA 42 V system, and investigates the relevant comparison. The loss models are constructed taking into account of PWM modulation strategy while the calculation of semiconductor losses are based on experimentally verified parameters of switch devices. The conduction and switching losses in both starting (DC-AC inversion) and generating (AC-DC rectification) operation modes are investigated, and in either case, the comparison are graphically presented with respect to the modulation indices or the pairs of modulation index and AC current displacement angle. The comparison shows that in the starting operation mode the matrix-z-source converter can offer less total conduction and switching loss than VSI converter in certain range of modulation indices, although the range is somehow smaller than the ordinary z-source inverter because of the power semiconductors in series connection. While in the generating operation mode, the novel matrix-z-source converter can promise less total conduction and switching loss than the conventional VSI converter in almost the full range of modulation indices.


OBJECTIVES
A) To examine the long-term survival of critically ill patients compared with the general population in a nationwide sample of patients requiring intensive care; and b) to analyze long-term survival stratified by specific diagnostic subgroups.

DESIGN
Prospective, inception cohort study.

SETTING
Twenty-five Finnish Intensive care units (ICUs) at 17 hospitals, including 13 ICUs in five tertiary care centers.

PATIENTS
A consecutive sample of 12,180 adult patients who were admitted to ICUs in 1987. The sample was further divided into seven diagnostic subgroups.

INTERVENTIONS
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Vital status at 5 yrs after admission to an ICU was examined and compared to the age- and gender-adjusted survival of Finland's general population. Among ICU patients, the 5-yr mortality rate was 3.3 times that of Finland's general population (95% confidence interval 3.0 to 3.4). At 2 yrs, the survival rate paralleled that of the general population. At 5 yrs, the relative survival rate of the ICU patients was 66.7%. Cancer was a strong determinant of a poor outcome in multivariate analysis (relative risk 3.17; 95% confidence interval 2.86 to 3.51). The 5-yr mortality rate of the ICU patients compared with the general population was highest among patients admitted to the ICU after intoxication. Trauma victims and patients admitted to the ICU with a cardiovascular diagnosis reached the risk of death of the general population in the shortest time.

CONCLUSIONS
ICU patients reached a life expectancy similar to the general population, on average, 2 yrs after admission. The time after which the survival parallels that of the general population depends, however, on the diagnostic category.


This study investigated bark growth and decay development after thinning damage at two western Oregon sites, and estimated value loss with a tree growth model. All scars that remained open in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) had advanced decay 13 years after initial wounding. Scars less than 4 inches wide closed in 8 years. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) was more resistant to decay; no rot was observed in scars less than 21 years old. Advanced decay and pitch rings, however, were observed in 29-year-old scars, both open and closed. Because of these defects, future value loss increased with time after wounding and with higher stand damage levels. Fifty years after thinning, about 2 percent of the total future log value, or $189/ac. (1997$), could be lost in Douglas-fir stands with 20 percent stand damage and a 2-inch diameter deduction. This loss could be reduced to $58/ac.if stand damage were minimized to 5 percent with more careful techniques. The increase in thinning costs ($61/ac. for tractor thinning; $79/ac. for cut-to-length; $124/ac. for skyline; with a 5% increase in production time) that is incurred while trying to minimize stand damage could be justified if it reduced future value losses to crop trees.


ABSTRACT Phosphorylation represents one the most abundant and important posttranslational modifications of proteins, including viral proteins. Virus-encoded serine/threonine protein kinases appear to be a feature that is unique to large DNA viruses. Although the importance of these kinases for virus replication in cell culture is variable, they invariably play important roles in virus virulence. The current review provides an overview of the different viral serine/threonine protein kinases of several large DNA viruses and discusses their function, importance, and potential as antiviral drug targets.


Load forecast uncertainty is an important factor in long range system planning and has been shown to have a significant impact on the calculated reliability indices in generating capacity studies. In general, a higher capacity reserve is required to satisfy a future uncertainty load than to serve a known load, at a specified level of reliability. Load forecast considerations are also important in composite generation and transmission system reliability studies, and their associated probability distributions. This paper examines the effects of load forecast uncertainty in bulk system reliability assessment incorporating changes in system composition, topology, load curtailment policies and bus load correlation levels.


The calculation of potential earth's surface solar radiation is imperative for analyzing the atmosphere-vegetation-soil interaction process. Therefore, many schemes were introduced with  direct (using net radiometer) or indirect (using air temperature or air plus soil temperatures) formulas. Three combinations of factors are known to control the Rn value; the astronomical based factors which determine the general spatial distribution of Rn values, the climatological factors which determine the assigned spatial variation of those values, and the topographical factors that influence climatological factors rates ( i.e. have indirect effects on Rn values).
     For Iraq, the ecosystem influences of global warming were obvious in the 1980s and  the Rn rates approached peak values .. Thereafter, the general behavior of Rn rates was geographically-based , i.e. increasing rates in the middle and southern regions and descending rates in the northern parts, since it was spatially correlated in a reverse manner with RH values. In the present study, this issue was clarified by utilizing the standard annual mean Rn rate known for Iraq's weather, which was 9.8MJ.m-2.year-1. The results showed that, in 1987, the area with annual mean Rn equal or higher than this annual standard rate was 305088.098 km2. The area was reduced to 241984.77 km2 in 1997, followed by an expansion to 294491.136 km2 in 2007,  and another reduction to 277272.542 km2 in 2017.


STUDY QUESTION
Is recreational and residential sun exposure associated with risk of endometriosis?

SUMMARY ANSWER
Tanning bed use in early adulthood, sunscreen use and history of sunburns were associated with a greater risk of endometriosis; however, higher residential UV exposure was associated with a lower endometriosis risk.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Previous research has reported an association between endometriosis and skin cancer, with evidence of shared risk factors between the two diseases. We investigated the potential associations between ultraviolet radiation and endometriosis risk.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
The Nurses' Health Study II is a prospective cohort of 116 429 female US nurses aged 25-42 years at enrolment in 1989. Participants completed self-administered biennial questionnaires through June 2015.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS
We investigated self-reported measures of recreational sun-exposure and geocoded residential UV exposure in childhood and adulthood in relation to risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis among premenopausal white women. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
During follow-up, 4791 incident cases of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were reported among 1 252  248 person-years. Tanning bed use during high school/college (≥6 times per year vs. never use: HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.01-1.40; Ptrend = 0.04) and at ages 25-35 (HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.12-1.39; Ptrend ≤ 0.0001), number of sunburns during adolescence (Ptrend = 0.03) and percentage of time using sunscreen in adulthood (Ptrend = 0.002) were positively associated with risk of endometriosis. In contrast, residential UV level at birth (highest vs. lowest quintile: HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72-0.92; Ptrend = 0.0001), at age 15 (HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.70-0.88; Ptrend ≤ 0.0001) and at age 30 (HR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.82-0.99; Ptrend = 0.21) were associated with a decreased risk of endometriosis.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
Self-reported endometriosis diagnosis may be prone to misclassification; however, we restricted our definition to laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis, which has been shown to have high validity compared to medical records.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
Our results suggest that tanning bed use in early adulthood increases endometriosis risk, potentially through a harmful effect of ultraviolet A wavelengths, and that residential UV exposure reduces risk, possibly via optimal vitamin D synthesis. These findings should be investigated further to enhance our understanding of endometriosis aetiology.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
This project was supported by NICHD grants HD48544 and HD52473, HD57210, NIH grant CA50385, CA176726. M.K. was supported by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (#PIOF-GA-2011-302078) and is grateful to the Philippe Foundation and the Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation for their financial support. H.R.H. is supported by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (K22 CA193860). The authors have nothing to disclose.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
N/A.


BRAULIK, G., The Theology of Deuteronomy: Collected Essays (trans. U. Lindblad; BIBAL Collected Essays, 2; North Richland Hills, TX: BIBAL Press, 1994), pp. ix + 302. Paper, $18.95. ISBN 0-941037-30-4. Braulik has been publishing on Deuteronomy since 1968, contributed the twovolume commentary for the Neue Echter Bibel, and is preparing the Hermeneia commentary with Lohfink, his Rome teacher. The first six of the nine essays translated here were republished among his Studien zur Theologie des Deuteronomiums (1988). The subjects range over wisdom, divine presence and law; festal joy; popular liturgy; the Deuteronomistic conception of freedom and peace; Deuteronomy and the birth of monotheism; Deuteronomy and human rights; the development of the doctrine of justification; the rejection of the goddess Asherah in Israel; and Deuteronomy and the commemorative culture of Israel.


Research consistently shows a strong correlation between heroin/crack cocaine use, acquisitive crime and income generation, through activities such as sex work and theft. Less is known however about alternative choices of income generation such as small-scale drug supply. Drawing on data from interviews with 30 heroin and crack cocaine user-dealers in a city in South West England, this article explores the motivations, practices and roles undertaken by small-scale addicted suppliers who distribute drugs to other addicted users for the purpose of reproducing their own supply. Findings suggest that addicted user-dealers' motivations are commonly different to those of commercially motivated suppliers, while their activities are perceived as a less harmful and a more convenient way of funding their drug dependency than other acquisitive crimes.


This dissertation explores the treatment of urban spaces in Latin American dirty realist fiction from the 1990's to the present, focusing on the works of Guillermo Fadanelli (Mexico), Fernando Vallejo (Colombia), and Pedro Juan Gutierrez (Cuba). Whereas Fadanelli centers his works in the megalopolis of a Mexico City straining under the pressures of rapid modernization and development, Gutierrez depicts a Havana crumbling during the economic crises of the Special Period, and Vallejo portrays Medellin as utterly degraded by drug trafficking and its associated violence. All three authors, however, employ the gritty, almost visceral dirty realist style to best depict poverty-stricken societies populated by unexceptional individuals in a quest for survival in a rapidly transforming and decaying urban landscape. This dirty realist space is thus primarily defined by abjection and the uncomfortable coexistence of a focus on distinctive local minutia and the homogenizing effects of global, postmodern consumer society, a phenomenon accompanied by the proliferation of non-places as defined by Marc Auge. In these non-places, the meta-narratives of family, religion and nation that previously marked spaces of identity formation no longer function, leaving a sense of purposelessness. While there exists some nostalgia for the spaces that produced and reproduced these previous narratives, these spaces also prove to be marginalizing and have contributed to the city's current state of violence and decay. In light of the negative meanings ascribed to earlier spaces of individual and community identity formation, the evacuation of all meaning from these spaces has a positive connotation. Even though the manner in which these dirty realist authors are conceptualizing the urban space shows this new space to be decadent, empty, and violent, its transitional nature and the questioning of previous narratives that it implies open room for the creation of a new type of space that could grow to be more inclusive, even if this is never accomplished within the narratives themselves.


PabB, aminodeoxychorismate synthase, is the chorismic acid binding component of the heterodimeric PabA-PabB complex that converts chorismic acid to 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate, a precursor of p-aminobenzoate and folic acid in microorganisms. The second component, a glutamine amidotransferase subunit, PabA, generates ammonia that is channeled to the PabB active site where it attacks C4 of a chorismate-derived intermediate that is covalently bound, through C2, to an active site lysine residue. The presence of a PIKGT motif was, until recently, believed to allow discrimination of PabB enzymes from the closely related enzyme anthranilate synthase, which typically contains a PIAGT active site motif and does not form a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate with chorismate. A subclass of PabB enzymes that employ an alternative mechanism requiring 2 equiv of ammonia from glutamine and that feature a noncovalently bound 2-amino-2-deoxyisochorismate intermediate was recently identified. Here we report the 2.25 Å crystal structure of PabB from the emerging pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. It is the first reported structure of a PabB that features the PIAGT motif. Surprisingly, no dedicated pabA is evident in the genome of S. maltophilia, suggesting that another cellular amidotransferase is able to fulfill the role of PabA in this organism. Evaluation of the ammonia-dependent aminodeoxychorismate synthase activity of S. maltophilia PabB alone revealed that it is virtually inactive. However, in the presence of a heterologous PabA surrogate, typical levels of activity were observed using either glutamine or ammonia as the nitrogen source. Additionally, the structure suggests that a key segment of the polypeptide can remodel itself to interact with a nonspecialized or shared amidotransferase partner in vivo. The structure and mass spectral analysis further suggest that S. maltophilia PabB, like Escherichia coli PabB, binds tryptophan in a vestigial regulatory site. The observation that the binding site is unoccupied in the crystal structure, however, suggests the affinity may be low relative to that of E. coli PabB.


The nucleus of a breeding colony of free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) free from tuberculosis, herpes-B virus, shigellosis, and salmonellosis has been established on Key Lois, Florida, USA. Standardized procedures for trapping, quarantine, and shipping from the wild in India to the island have been established. The monkeys seem to have adapted well to the Florida Keys' climate. Reproduction has proceeded according to expectations, and social groups have been formed with continual restructuring as each new group is placed on the island. The isolation of Key Lois from other inhabited keys by the open sea affords good isolation and has discouraged intrusion by unwanted visitors. The operational costs of this island breeding program are encouraging. It is projected that by 1976 or 1977, monkeys should be available from this colony at a lower price than for animals bred in indoor facilities; and their availability will be in excess of animals trapped in the forest and subjected to a conventional conditioning and quarantine period.


This paper presents a novel soft-switching PWM utility frequency AC to high frequency AC power conversion circuit incorporating boost-half-bridge inverter topology, which is more suitable and acceptable for cost effective consumer induction heating applications. The operating principle and the operation modes are described using the equivalent circuits with the operating voltage and current waveforms. The operating performances are illustrated and evaluated, including the power regulation and power conversion efficiency versus duty cycle characteristics based on the power dissipation as compared with those of the previously developed high-frequency inverter. The power converter practical effectiveness is substantially proved based on experimental results from practical design example


The design of an effective plant-wide control strategy is a key challenge for the development of future continuous pharmaceutical processes. This article presents a case study for the design of a plant-wide control structure for a system inspired by an end-to-end continuous pharmaceutical pilot plant. A hierarchical decomposition strategy is used to classify control objectives. A plant-wide dynamic model of the process is used to generate parametric sensitivities, which provide a basis for the synthesis of control loops. Simulations for selected disturbances illustrate that the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the final product can be kept close to specification in the presence of significant and persistent disturbances. Furthermore, it is illustrated how selected CQAs of the final product can be brought simultaneously to a new setpoint while maintaining the remaining CQAs at a constant value during this transition. The latter result shows flexibility to control CQAs independently of each other. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3671–3685, 2013


Magnetic nanoparticles can be employed for a broad range of biomedical applications where the knowledge of the distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles is of importance for efficacy, patient's safety, etc. The need exists to have an as accurate as possible quantification of the unknown particles distribution. Magnetorelaxometry (MRX) measurements are able to measure the magnetic induction originating from a certain distribution of magnetically activated nanoparticles. Starting from these measurements it is possible to determine the distribution using a minimum norm estimation technique. This approach is however ill-posed. We sequentially activate the magnetic nanoparticles through the use of excitation coil arrays with the aim to reduce the ill-posedness. This paper presents some advancements in magnetic nanoparticle reconstruction in terms of reconstruction quality using numerical simulations. The results show that inhomogeneous sequential activation is a proper alternative to homogeneous activation with Helmholtz coils since an increase in accuracy with a factor ranging from 1.5 until 2 is obtained. The presented numerical techniques coupled to MRX measurements can be of significant aid so to have more quantitative knowledge of the biodistribution.


The accumulation of sinapate esters (SE) in organ- and tissue-specific patterns is considered a hallmark of Brassicaceae plants. Seeds of Arabidopsis and Brassica napus contain sinapine (sinapoylcholine) as major phenolic compound whereas the UV-shielding sinapoylmalate accumulates in epidermal cells. The accumulation kinetics of SE is based on transcriptional regulation of the enzymes UDP glucose:sinapate glucosyltransferase (SGT), sinapoylglucose:choline sinapoyltransferase (SCT), sinapoylglucose:malate sinapoyltransferase (SMT) and sinapine esterase (SCE). Enzymatic SGT activity is mediated by UDP glucosyltransferases of the UGT84A clade. In B. napus, the enzyme UGT84A9 is limiting for SE biosynthesis during seed development. Arabidopsis employs, besides the SGT homolog UGT84A2, three other hydroxycinnamate UGTs (UGT84A1, -A3, -A4) without pronounced specificity. In the allotetraploid genome of B. napus, UGT84A9 is represented by four loci of which UGT84A9a and -b are involved in SE biosynthesis. The sinapoyltransferases SMT and SCT were derived from hydrolases of the serine carboxypeptidase type (SCPs). Arabidopsis SMT adopted the functional elements of SCPs - catalytic triad, oxyanion hole and hydrogen bond network for substrate recognition - to catalyze glucose ester-dependent acyltransfer reactions. Sinapine esterase evolved by recruitment of lipase-like ancestors. To decrease the amount of antinutritive SE compounds in seeds of B. napus, targeted metabolic engineering was proven as the most efficient strategy. Silencing of UGT84A9 suppresses the biosyntheses of sinapine and related SE. Seed-specific overexpression of sinapine esterase BnSCE3 prevents sinapine accumulation by synchronization of biosynthesis and degradation. Combination of biosynthesis suppression with induced degradation of accumulating SE bears the potential to generate low sinapine B. napus lines.


"Religion and conflict resolution", as field of study, may be viewed as a relatively new area of specialization in contemporary international studies and more specifically in political studies. This may be attributed to the fact that religion has made a dramatic comeback into the public arena after decades of marginalization, and that it has gradually played a positive role in developmental affairs internationally. In the light of these developments, Megan Shore - who is a staff at the University of Western Ontario in Canada - decidedly paid attention to this area by giving particular attention to the way Christianity influenced the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the general outcomes in this post-conflict nation-state.


The ZnO nanorods-based ammonia (NH3) gas sensors with different electrode spacing are fabricated and studied. Experimentally, the hexagonal ZnO nanorods were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The diameter and length of ZnO nanorods were about 179±2, 1806±5 nm, respectively. By shrinking the electrode spacing, the sensor response of studied device is improved and the sensor response is enhanced more than ten times in magnitude. The improved NH3 sensing ability caused by shrink electrode spacing is attributed to the presence of more grain boundaries and depletion layers. Therefore, the studied device with the shrink of electrode spacing provides a promise for high-performance ammonia sensing applications.


The radiographic examination of wooden polychromatic sculptures is important in order to know the technology of construction of these objects. Information on the internal structure, localization of joints and the number of blocks used to build the sculpture can be obtained. This contribution is part of a long term work in the area of conservation/restoration of art works of the colonial period in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The authors report the use of a digital image processing system to study the work of Antonio Francisco Lisboa, well known as 'Aleijadinho', the most important sculptor from the colonial period (XVII Century) in Minas Gerais.


The mechanical behavior of conducting polysiloxane-polypyrrole graft copolymers has been investigated as a function of ambient oxidative aging period. Graft copolymers of N-pyrrolyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (SPPy) with pyrrole were synthesized electrochemically at constant potential by using p -toluene sulfonic acid as the supporting electrolyte. Mechanical tests were performed on both unwashed and dichloromethane -washed copolymers after aging. An initial decrease followed by an increase in the tensile strength and strain values was observed with aging. The conductivities and mechanical properties of the films were determined to remain almost unchanged after 6 months of aging at about 46 S/cm.


Author(s): Lee, Olivia Pei-Hua | Advisor(s): Frechet, Jean M. J | Abstract: Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have emerged as an alternative technology to current silicon-based systems for harvesting solar energy. The solution-processability of conjugated materials offers the potential for scalable, low-cost production of lightweight, flexible solar cells. In particular, OPVs containing a bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) architecture, where electron-donors and electron-acceptors form an interpenetrating network within the device active layer, have demonstrated high solar cell performance. The active layer components serve a crucial role in light absorption, charge generation and carrier transport. Through synthetic design and device characterization, this work focuses on elucidating design strategies and principles for the development of high-performing electron-donors for OPVs.Molecular packing parameters of conjugated materials can strongly impact charge transport in the solid state. With a model polymer backbone containing thiophene comonomers, it was shown that strategic substitution of furan for thiophene improved material solubility and allowed for the use of linear alkyl side chains to reduce insulating contents in devices. These structural modifications yielded polymers with sufficient solubility, favorable solid-state morphology, enhanced long-range packing order, and efficient OPV performance. In a separate study, conjugated small molecules were functionalized with symmetric, planar end-groups so that they could self-assemble and form an interpenetrating network with electron-acceptors in the active layer. This investigation demonstrates that directing self-assembly via end-groups is an effective strategy to enhance molecular interconnectivity and improve the performance of molecular semiconductors in organic solar cells.Alongside solid-state morphology, semiconducting materials need to exhibit optical and electronic properties that enable effective light absorption and charge generation in solar cells. We showed that incorporating antiaromatic units into conjugated molecules effectively redshifted and broadened absorption to cover a significant portion of the visible spectrum. The impact of atomic substitution on optoelectronics was also explored with the design of an electron-poor monomer, oxadiazolopyridine, which yielded efficient OPV materials upon copolymerization with electron-donors. Furthermore, gold and silver nanoparticles were embedded in one of the device interlayers to enhance light absorption via surface plasmon resonance, improving OPV performance.Finally, influence of chemical structures on photoexcited charge transfer processes was investigated in a system containing organic electron-donors and inorganic electron-acceptor. Characterization by femtosecond-stimulated Raman spectroscopy provided information on electron transfer dynamics and molecular structural changes in the excited state. The results revealed that organic molecules containing trans-double bonds could isomerize into cis-double bonds upon photoexcitation, subsequently decreasing charge separation and device efficiency.


In recent year, the rise of economic growth and technology advance leads to improve the quality of service of traditional transport system. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) has become more and more popular. At present, the collection of real-time traffic information is executed in two ways: (1) Stationary Vehicle Detectors (VD) and (2) Global Position System (GPS)-based probe cars reporting. However, VD devices need a large sum of money to build and maintain. Therefore, we propose the linear regression model to infer the equation between vehicle speed and traffic flow. The traffic flow can be estimated from the speed which is obtained from GPS-based probe cars. In experiments, the Speed Error Ratio (SER) and Flow Error Ratio (FER) of linear regression model are 4.60% and 24.63% respectively. The estimated speed and traffic flow by using linear regression model is better than by using linear model, power law model, exponential model, and normal distribution model. Therefore, the linear regression model can be used to estimate traffic information for ITS.


The Sand Hill fault is a steeply dipping normal fault that cuts poorly consolidated sediments of the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico. The fault zone, which varies in width from ∼1 to 6 m, is selectively cemented by calcite. The margins of cemented areas are characterized locally by striking patterns of elongate cementation that have a strong subvertical orientation. We have considered a variety of possible mechanisms for the formation of these elongate cements, including deformation, weathering, rotation of adjacent cemented beds, and precipitation from flowing ground water. All but the latter can be ruled out. In addition, the elongate cements closely resemble elongate concretions that form from flowing ground water in sedimentary rocks. We conclude that the cements precipitated from flowing ground water, and are elongate parallel to the flow direction at the time of precipitation. Thus, these elongate cements provide an important constraint on models of fluid flow along faults in poorly consolidated sediments; i.e., the orientation of outcrop-scale flow.


Abstract Background The study of reproductive characteristics of 430 male subjects of different age, fertility status and educational level who were involved in the program of extracorporeal fertilization at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Centre Niš, examined their knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding tobacco and alcohol consumption as lifestyle risk predictors of their partial or full infertility. Methodology Consisted of the analyses of spermiograms to establish their fertility status and a survey of their attitudes towards smoking and alcohol use (behavior, knowledge of the general health and reproductive health consequences of such a lifestyle, and their determination to change it). Results The proportion with higher tobacco consumption and more severe forms of infertility increased significantly with ageing (P < 0.001); the highest daily consumption of alcohol and the incidence of intoxication was seen among azoospermic patients; the level of awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco was highest among normozoospermic subjects and the highest level of determination to quit smoking was statistically significantly present among azoospermic subjects. Conclusion Appropriate use of health promotion activities in relation to alcohol and tobacco use is through specially designed programs.


This study wants to find answers about how the existence of stsudy of the yellow book (kitab kuning) at pesantren Darun Nahdhah, Darel Hikmah, and Babussalam within the scope of social change. In general, the three pesantren have responded positively to social change, to make changes and adjustments to the education system, including in order to maintain the tradition of the study of the yellow book. In other words, the identity of pesantren with yellow book still attached at their respective schools. However, its existence is different. Among them, there were made studies of yellow book as co curriculer, together with other curriculum, then there is also making it only limited additional or extra curricular activities.


In this paper, we present an algorithm for lateral control of a vehicle—a smooth and accurate model predictive controller (MPC). The fundamental difference compared to a standard MPC is that the driving smoothness is directly addressed in the cost function. The controller objective is based on the minimization of the first- and second-order spatial derivatives of the curvature. By doing so, jerky commands to the steering wheel, which could lead to permanent damage on the steering components and vehicle structure, are avoided. A good path tracking accuracy is ensured by adding constraints to avoid deviations from the reference path. Finally, the controller is experimentally tested and evaluated on a Scania construction truck. The evaluation is performed at Scania's facilities near Södertälje, Sweden via two different paths: a precision track that resembles a mining scenario and a high-speed test track that resembles a highway situation. Even using a linearized kinematic vehicle to predict the vehicle motion, the performance of the proposed controller is encouraging, since the deviation from the path never exceeds 30 cm. It clearly outperforms an industrial pure-pursuit controller in terms of path accuracy and a standard MPC in terms of driving smoothness.


There is a consensus in the international community that rural electrifi cation and, in particular, the productive use of electricity contributes to poverty alleviation. At the same time, eff orts to evaluate the impacts of development projects have increased substantially. This paper provides a hands-on guide for designing evaluation studies regarding the impacts of productive electricity usage. Complementary to the existing literature on evaluation methods, this guide familiarizes project managers with the concrete steps that have to be undertaken to plan and implement an evaluation. The guide comprises three modules based on enterprise surveys and on anecdotal case studies. For each module, the implementation is described on a step-by-step basis including conceptual issues as well as logistics and methodological questions. JEL Classifi cation: O22


Robots that solve complex tasks in environments too dangerous for humans to enter are desperately needed, e.g., for search and rescue applications. We describe our mobile manipulation robot Momaro, with which we participated successfully in the DARPA Robotics Challenge. It features a unique locomotion design with four legs ending in steerable wheels, which allows it both to drive omnidirectionally and to step over obstacles or climb. Furthermore, we present advanced communication and teleoperation approaches, which include immersive three‐dimensional (3D) visualization, and 6D tracking of operator head and arm motions. The proposed system is evaluated in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, the DLR SpaceBot Cup Qualification, and lab experiments. We also discuss the lessons learned from the competitions.


An investigation of the properties of titanium-tin and titanium-tin-aluminium alloys, produced by powder metallurgy, has been carried out, using as the starting material titanium produced by the reduction of titanium tetrachloride with sodium. Specimens of unalloyed titanium with low porosities could be obtained after a single pressing and sintering operation and the mechanical properties of these specimens were comparable to those of arc-melted material. The addition of tin had a beneficial effect upon the compacting and sintering characteristics of the powder, as well as markedly affecting the mechanical properties. The preparation of titanium-tin-aluminium alloys was more difficult and, for satisfactory results, compacts had to be worked after sintering. By this means specimens with relatively low alloying additions could be prepared to give acceptable mechanical properties. When, however, the alloying contest exceeded a certain level, the compacts were exceptionally brittle. This is believed to be due to inherent brittleness associated with the composition and not to be due to the method of preparation. It is concluded that sodium-reduced titanium is a suitable starting material for the satisfactory fabrication of certain titanium alloys by powder metallurgy and that the use of these methods offers certain advantages over production by arc-melting. Further incidental investigations, during the progress of the work, were carried out into the wetting of titanium by molten tin, the structure of titanium after cooling at different rates and the constitution of certain titanium-tin-aluminium alloys.


Gamification is used in several contexts, such as marketing, education, and public health. The authors implement gamification to promote a dynamic environment relative to software process improvement. However, well-established theoretical guidelines to design gamified experiences are lacking. The authors propose a framework to assess gamified environments, identify and adopt gamification principles, as well as design gamified activities. The proposed framework helps users create gamified experiences that satisfy the purposes, goals, principles, and elements defined as fundamental gamification components. Here, the authors apply the proposed framework to a video scrum simulation to assess the adoption of gamification principles. The case study includes identification of gamification principles incorporated in the video scrum and their relationships to the elements of the mechanics, dynamics, and emotions framework. The results show that the game elements defined in the design layer of the proposed framework were realised in the video scrum simulation.


Obesity remains a prevalent and independent risk factor for life-threatening infection following major surgery. Here, we demonstrate that when mice are fed an obesogenic Western diet (WD), they become susceptible to lethal sepsis with multiple organ damage after exposure to antibiotics and an otherwise-recoverable surgical injury. Analysis of the gut microbiota in this model demonstrates that WD alone leads to loss of Bacteroidetes, a bloom of Proteobacteria, and evidence of antibiotic resistance development even before antibiotics are administered. After antibiotics and surgery, lethal sepsis with organ damage developed in in mice fed a WD with the appearance of multidrug-resistant pathogens in the liver, spleen, and blood. The importance of these findings lies in exposing how the selective pressures of diet, antibiotic exposure, and surgical injury can converge on the microbiome, resulting in lethal sepsis and organ damage without the introduction of an exogenous pathogen. ABSTRACT Despite antibiotics and sterile technique, postoperative infections remain a real and present danger to patients. Recent estimates suggest that 50% of the pathogens associated with postoperative infections have become resistant to the standard antibiotics used for prophylaxis. Risk factors identified in such cases include obesity and antibiotic exposure. To study the combined effect of obesity and antibiotic exposure on postoperative infection, mice were allowed to gain weight on an obesogenic Western-type diet (WD), administered antibiotics and then subjected to an otherwise recoverable sterile surgical injury (30% hepatectomy). The feeding of a WD alone resulted in a major imbalance of the cecal microbiota characterized by a decrease in diversity, loss of Bacteroidetes, a bloom in Proteobacteria, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms among the cecal microbiota. When WD-fed mice were administered antibiotics and subjected to 30% liver resection, lethal sepsis, characterized by multiple-organ damage, developed. Notable was the emergence and systemic dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathobionts, including carbapenem-resistant, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Serratia marcescens, which expressed a virulent and immunosuppressive phenotype. Analysis of the distribution of exact sequence variants belonging to the genus Serratia suggested that these strains originated from the cecal mucosa. No mortality or MDR pathogens were observed in identically treated mice fed a standard chow diet. Taken together, these results suggest that consumption of a Western diet and exposure to certain antibiotics may predispose to life-threating postoperative infection associated with MDR organisms present among the gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE Obesity remains a prevalent and independent risk factor for life-threatening infection following major surgery. Here, we demonstrate that when mice are fed an obesogenic Western diet (WD), they become susceptible to lethal sepsis with multiple organ damage after exposure to antibiotics and an otherwise-recoverable surgical injury. Analysis of the gut microbiota in this model demonstrates that WD alone leads to loss of Bacteroidetes, a bloom of Proteobacteria, and evidence of antibiotic resistance development even before antibiotics are administered. After antibiotics and surgery, lethal sepsis with organ damage developed in in mice fed a WD with the appearance of multidrug-resistant pathogens in the liver, spleen, and blood. The importance of these findings lies in exposing how the selective pressures of diet, antibiotic exposure, and surgical injury can converge on the microbiome, resulting in lethal sepsis and organ damage without the introduction of an exogenous pathogen.


We describe the design, construction, and performance of a polarized solid target for use in electron scattering experiments with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer. Protons and deuterons are continuously polarized by microwave-induced spin–flip transitions at 1 K and 5 T: The target operated successfully during two cycles in 1998 and 2000, providing proton and deuteron polarizations as high as 96% and 46%, respectively. The unique features of the target which permit its use inside a 4p spectrometer are stressed. Comparison is made between the target polarization measured by the traditional method of NMR and by electron elastic scattering. r 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 29.25.Pj; 13.88+e


Glycoproteins homologous to glycoprotein B (gB) of herpes simplex virus constitute the most highly conserved group of herpesvirus glycoproteins. This strong conservation of amino acid sequences might be indicative of a common functional role. Indeed, gB homologs have been implicated in the processes of viral entry and virus-mediated cell-cell fusion. Recently, we showed that pseudorabies virus (PrV) lacking the essential gB-homologous glycoprotein gII could be propagated on a cell line expressing the gB homolog of bovine herpesvirus 1, gI(BHV-1), leading to a phenotypic complementation of the gII defect (I. Rauh, F. Weiland, F. Fehler, G. Keil, and T.C. Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 65:621-631, 1991). However, this pseudotypic virus could still replicate only on complementing cell lines, thereby limiting experimental approaches to analyze the effects of the gB exchange in detail. We describe here the construction and isolation of a PrV recombinant, 9112C2, that lacks gII(PrV) but instead stably carries and expresses the gene encoding gI(BHV-1). The recombinant is able to replicate on noncomplementing cells with growth kinetics and final titers similar to those of its gII-positive wild-type PrV parent. Neutralization tests and immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrated incorporation of gI(BHV-1) into 9112C2 virions with concomitant absence of gII(PrV). Analysis of in vitro host ranges of wild-type PrV, BHV-1, and recombinant 9112C2 showed that in cells of pig, rabbit, canine, monkey, or human origin, the plating efficiency of 9112C2 was similar to that of its PrV parent. Exchange of gII(PrV) for gI(BHV-1) in recombinant 9112C2 or by phenotypic complementation of gII- PrV propagated on gI(BHV-1)-expressing cell lines resulted in penetration kinetics intermediate between those of wild-type PrV and BHV-1. In conclusion, we report the first isolation of a viral recombinant in which a lethal glycoprotein mutation has been rescued by a homologous glycoprotein of a different herpesvirus. Our data show that in gII- PrV, gI(BHV-1) in vitro fully complements the lethal defect associated with lack of gII(PrV). These results conclusively demonstrate that gI(BHV-1) in a PrV background can execute all essential functions normally provided by gII(PrV). They also indicate that the origin of gB-homologous glycoproteins influences the penetration kinetics of herpesviruses.


BACKGROUND
The rationale for the study was based on the hypothesis that decreased or absent expression on tumor cells of adhesion molecules, the class I or class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, or costimulatory molecules might be responsible, in part, for the poor ability of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) to induce generation of antitumor effector cells in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and lymphocyte function associated antigen-3 (LFA-3) and distribution of the costimulatory molecules, B7.1, B7.2, and CD40, and of class I and class II MHC molecules on SCCHN cells in situ and on SCCHN cell lines.

SETTING
University medical centers.

DESIGN
Expression of ICAM-1, LFA-3, MHC molecules, B7.1, B7.2, and CD40 was evaluated in human SCCHN biopsy specimens by immunohistochemistry and on SCCHN cell lines by flow cytometry. To confirm our hypothesis that impaired T-cell activation observed in patients with SCCHN is caused by the absence of costimulatory B7 molecules, a B7-negative SCCHN cell line was transduced with the B7.1 gene, using a retroviral vector, and tested in mixed lymphocyte tumor cocultures.

RESULTS
In contrast to abundant expression of ICAM-1, LFA-3, class I MHC molecules, and CD40, the absence of B7.1, B7.2, and class II MHC molecules on tumor cells was observed in situ and in vitro. Lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells in inflammatory infiltrates surrounding tumor cell clusters expressed both costimulatory and adhesion molecules. The SCCHN lines negative for B7.1 and class II MHC antigens failed to induce proliferation of T cells in mixed lymphocyte tumor cocultures. However, when these cell lines were transduced with the B7.1 gene, their ability to induce T-cell proliferation in mixed lymphocyte tumor cocultures was restored.

CONCLUSIONS
The absence of B7 protein or class II MHC antigen expression on human SCCHN cells is responsible for the failure of these tumors to induce proliferation of T cells in vitro. Transduction of the B7.1 gene into SCCHN restores the ability of the tumor to induce T-cell proliferation in vitro.


New entrants to epidemiology or the other disciplines of community health, both in the United Kingdom and other countries, are most welcome to join our list of book reviewers. both with the place of birth and also the attendant. The demise of the power of the midwife, and the rise in control of the birth situation by the male obstetrician in hospital, complete with his (sic) increasing paraphernalia of technology and scientific arguments, is thoroughly reviewed. Tew is perhaps on less familiar territory with the historical data; for whatever reason, they lack the soundness of the analysis of the statistical and epidemiological data. The blunt analysis of simple careerism by obstetricians is not convincing enough to explain the complexity of events surrounding the increasing trend towards hospital delivery in earlier decades. As well as accepting motives of professional and territorial development, one would surely wish to examine (for example) contemporary social attitudes towards science and technology and to offer a closer analysis of the role of the hierarchy of midwifery. Tew's book presents us with a bit of a conundrum; while the second part of the book presents a rational critique of the obstetric claim to safer childbirth, the first, weaker, section which draws upon sociopolitical arguments, is in a curious way more accurate in that it acknowledges that the debate is not conducted only at a rational level.


GARBER, AMBER FRANCES. Assessing Genetic Contributions to Performance of Communally Reared Families of Wild and Domesticated Reciprocal Hybrid Striped Bass. (Under the direction of Craig Vincent Sullivan). Expansion of the hybrid striped bass (HSB) aquaculture industry has been limited by high production costs dictating high prices. Much of the industry is dependant upon wild or captive broodstock. Selective breeding for an improved HSB may be one way to increase production efficiency driving down market prices and allowing industry expansion. Researchers at North Carolina State University have domesticated the HSB parental species over several generations (white bass, Morone chrysops and striped bass, M. saxatilis). This study compares performance (e.g., survival, growth) of HSB progeny from domesticated and wild broodstock that were communally reared in research and commercial ponds and provides an initial assessment of the degree to which important production traits have a genetic basis amenable to improvement. HSB progeny were produced using commercial in vitro spawning techniques and a nested mating design with multiple white bass dams crossed with individual striped bass sires. At the time of spawning, cross combinations were recorded and blood (DNA) samples were collected from the broodstock. These samples were used to test the variability of 68 microsatellite DNA markers. The seven most variable markers were multiplexed and used for progeny identification (whole larvae and fin clips). Initial progeny samples were collected and genotyped at 2 days post hatch (dph) from aquaria of mixed parentage (N = 580) revealing a large variation in initial survival (0-68.9%). Larval samples (N = 438) were also collected and genotyped at 3-4 dph (Phase 0) after domesticated and wild progeny were mixed (volumetric ratio of 48:52). Fin clip samples were collected from progeny at the end of Phases I (≥ 35 dph; N = 761), II (~1 year of age; N = 909) and III (~1.5 years of age, market; N = 2789). Domesticated progeny experienced an increased rate of mortality within the first ~35 dph. This may have been a result of several beginning factors (e.g., variations in female broodstock fitness and initial stocking times) as significant variations were mainly evident between Phase 0 and Phase I-III progeny samples (pairwise comparisons of allelic frequency distributions P ≤ 0.00909, chi-square analyses P < 0.0001), whereas comparisons between later Phases (I-III) were less likely to differ significantly. Large variations in family sizes prevented comparisons between progeny from all full sibling families (n = 33), but comparisons of progeny from paternal half sibling families (n = 5) was possible. Trends in ranked means of paternal half sibling progeny by length and weight indicated that progeny from domesticated crosses performed as well as or better than progeny from wild crosses. The progeny from domesticated crosses were a rounder shape by comparison of mean condition factors and landmark based geometric morphometric analysis (N = 1203 digital images in Phase III). The occurrence of external abnormalities differed between ponds as did the shape of HSB progeny (P = 0.0001) with a significant interaction effect for shape between ponds and paternal half sibling families (P = 0.0080) indicating large environmental effects. In Phase III progeny, females grew faster than males (P ≤ 0.0002) and also varied in shape (P < 0.0001), but an interaction between family and shape did not appear to exist. The full sibling families with the largest numbers of progeny were compared to determine differences in growth (length, weight) and shape. These comparisons indicated that an additive effect from both dams and sires exists in HSB progeny, however


In this paper, we propose APO, a new packet scheduling scheme with Quality of Service (QoS) support for hybrid of real and non-real time services in HSDPA networks. The APO scheduling algorithm is based on the effective channel anticipation model. In contrast to the traditional schemes, the proposed method is implemented based on a cyclic non-work-conserving discipline. Simulation results indicated that proposed scheme has good capability to maximize the channel usage efficiency in compared to another exist scheduling methods. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Keywords—Scheduling Algorithm, Quality of Service, HSDPA.


The extraordinarily strong non-covalent interaction between biotin and avidin (kD = 10-14-10-16) has permitted this interaction to be used in a wide variety of experimental contexts. The Biotin Acceptor Peptide (BAP), a 15 amino acid motif that can be biotinylated by the E. coli BirA protein, has been fused to proteins of interest, making them substrates for in vivo biotinylation. Here we report on the construction and characterization of a modified BirA bearing signals for secretion and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention, for use in experimental contexts requiring biotinylation of secreted proteins. When expressed in the Drosophila female germline or ovarian follicle cells under Gal4-mediated transcriptional control, the modified BirA protein could be detected and shown to be enzymatically active in ovaries and progeny embryos. Surprisingly, however, it was not efficiently retained in the ER, and instead appeared to be secreted. To determine whether this secreted protein, now designated secBirA, could biotinylate secreted proteins, we generated BAP-tagged versions of two secreted Drosophila proteins, Torsolike (Tsl) and Gastrulation Defective (GD), which are normally expressed maternally and participate in embryonic pattern formation. Both Tsl-BAP and GD-BAP were shown to exhibit normal patterning activity. Co-expression of Tsl-BAP together with secBirA in ovarian follicle cells resulted in its biotinylation, which permitted its isolation from both ovaries and progeny embryos using Avidin-coupled affinity matrix. In contrast, co-expression with secBirA in the female germline did not result in detectable biotinylation of GD-BAP, possibly because the C-terminal location of the BAP tag made it inaccessible to BirA in vivo. Our results indicate that secBirA directs biotinylation of proteins bound for secretion in vivo, providing access to powerful experimental approaches for secreted proteins of interest. However, efficient biotinylation of target proteins may vary depending upon the location of the BAP tag or other structural features of the protein.


The characteristics-based ssolution. It is easy to verify thatectional method (CBSM) offers an Eulerian description of an internally mixed aerosol. It was shown to be robust and capable of exact preservation of lower order moments, allowing for highly skewed sectional droplet size distributions. In this paper we apply CBSM to a spatially varying flow, by incorporating the fractional step method. In this way an accurate time integration of the spatial terms in the transport equations for the velocity, mass fractions and sectional droplet concentrations is achieved. Integrating CBSM into the compressible PISO (Pressure-Implicit with Splitting of Operators) algorithm allows for phase change and corresponding changes in pressure. We apply CBSM to a lid-driven cavity flow. First, the steady state isothermal flow solution is validated against published data. Next, by releasing a saturated vapor into the cavity while cooling the walls, we simulate the formation of aerosol. The accuracy of the solution is studied, as well as the performance of the CBSM scheme in the spatially varying context. The solution of the velocity is shown to be accurate, even at CFL (Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy) numbers of unity. The feasibility of the developed method is demonstrated in a 3D complex geometry studying the aerosol generation via nucleation of hot vapors cooled by a dilution stream of cold air in a double-mixing tee system. The sectional approach delivers detailed information about the aerosol formation and size distribution of the droplets in the domain.


To analyze the status of risk factors for post-stroke vascular dementia, 128 patients with post-stroke dementia, aged from 50-79 years, have been studied. A control group included 125 patients, aged 50-79 years, with moderate cognitive impairment after stroke. A coronary heart disease was a significant risk factor for the patients aged from 50-59; coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, overweight and hyperlipidemia were significant risk factors for the aged 60-69, diabetes mellitus, overweight and hyperlipidemia were significant risk factors for the aged 70-79. The stroke-related factors were cerebral infarction in left hemisphere, frontal and temporo-occipital infarction, thalamic, basal ganglion; cerebral white-matter lesions. The mathematical model of post-stroke dementia prediction was created for patients with post-stroke moderate cognitive impairment.


The mode of cell death of two strains of mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells was studied following photodynamic therapy (PDT) sensitized by chloroaluminum phthalocyanine. Strains LY-R and LY-S differ in their relative sensitivities to UVC radiation, X-radiation, and PDT; both responded to PDT by undergoing apoptosis. The DNA was degraded into fragments with lengths which are multiples of approximately 180-190 base pairs (i.e., oligonucleosome size), a biochemical marker of apoptosis. The DNA fragmentation was dose and time dependent which indicates this response to be an enzymic process related to cell killing. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, and actinomycin D, an RNA synthesis inhibitor, enhanced the endonucleolytic DNA fragmentation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed chromatin condensation around the periphery of the nucleus, which is also characteristic of apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis in L5178Y cells by PDT was rapid, with marked degradation of DNA occurring in as little as 30 min. The rapidity of the response to PDT suggests that cellular damage produced by PDT can directly activate endonucleolysis and chromatin condensation, thereby by-passing many of the early steps in the signal transduction program which are acted upon by other agents causing apoptosis.


This experiment is to develop and implement an Internet based telemetry system. Telemetry is a science of automatically measuring or recording data from one or more instruments and transmitting them over a distance. The transmission of the data can be done over wires or radio waves but this experiment is implementing transmission of the data through the Internet. The system is consisting of local portion and remote portion. In the local portion, data are collected from external measuring devices (EMD) and interfaced to be stored into a local computer, which is connected to the Internet and functions as a server. In the remote portion, it consists of any remote computer that can access to the Internet and are able to access to the data from the local computer (the server) through the Internet. Hardware comprising a PIC microcontroller applied in interfacing circuits is developed to enable communication between the EMD and the local computer. Software programs are also developed for getting data and presenting Web pages to the user at both the local and remote computers. With the Internet based telemetry system, measured data can be accessed globally.


This master thesis seeks to develop a better understanding of how to be in control of the employee performance at
Qredits in order to effectively achieve the organizational objective of 2015.
In 2008 a new foundation was established to provide micro loans to new and existing entrepreneurs. This
foundation, called Qredits Stichting Microkrediet Nederland is part of the overall ''Micro financiering in Nederland''
initiative. Qredits offers micro loans up to €35.000,- secured with professional business coaching. Screening of the
micro loan application is executed through own loan officers who pro actively visit the entrepreneurs at home or at
the business location. Currently the organization employs 25 full time employees, including 13 loan officers
geographically divided over the Netherlands.
In November 2009 McKinsey and Company conducted a research commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs
to describe the future vision on micro financing in the Netherlands. This research resulted in a set of objectives for
Micro financiering Nederland called ''Ambition 2015''. The main objective for Qredits is to sell 5000 loans per year by
the end of 2015 with a default rate below five percent calculated over the total amount of outstanding debt. With
this number of loans it will be possible for Qredits to cover the operational costs with the interest collections and
Qredits can start to attract funding from private investors such as mainstream banks and pension funds.
To achieve both, the 5000 loans a year and conduct an intensive screening of all the loan applications the
management hired 13 loan officers geographically located through the Netherlands. However, there is information
asymmetry between the loan officer and the entrepreneur. The loan officer might not have all the relevant
information to conduct a solid screening and the entrepreneur might be reluctant to share the information which
will have a negatively influence on the risk assessment. On top of this issue, the management has to make sure the
loan officers perform sufficient and reliable screening procedures. Because of the information asymmetry between
the management and the loan officer it is possible for the loan officer to execute hidden actions and pursue own
interests. Together this makes the loan officer the crucial factor in effectively reaching the organizational objective
consequently the management wants to be in control of the performance of these loan officers.
Based on the practical problem the research objective is to provide the management of Qredits insight in how to be
in control of employee performance in order to effectively reach the organizational objective of 2015.To fulfill the
research objective, this explorative research is conducted using the case study methodology.


CLOCK is a classical cache replacement policy dating back to 1968 that was proposed as a low-complexity approximation toLRU. On every cache hit, the policy LRU needs to move the accessed item to the most recently used position, at which point, to ensure consistency and correctness, it serializes cache hits behind a single global lock. CLOCK eliminates thislock contention, and, hence, can support high concurrency and high throughput environments such as virtual memory (for example, Multics, UNIX, BSD, AIX) and databases (for example, DB2). Unfortunately, CLOCK is still plagued by disadvantages of LRU such as disregard for "frequency", susceptibility to scans, and low performance. As our main contribution, we propose a simple and elegant new algorithm, namely, CLOCK with Adaptive Replacement (CAR), that has several advantages over CLOCK: (i) it is scan-resistant; (ii) it is self-tuning and it adaptively and dynamically captures the "recency" and "frequency" features of a workload; (iii) it uses essentially the same primitives as CLOCK, and, hence, is low-complexity and amenable to a high-concurrency implementation; and (iv) it outperforms CLOCK across a wide-range of cache sizes and workloads. The algorithmCAR is inspired by the Adaptive Replacement Cache ( ARC) algorithm, and inherits virtually all advantages of ARC including its high performance, but does not serialize cache hits behind a single global lock. As our second contribution, we introduce another novel algorithm, namely, CAR with Temporal filtering ( CART), that has all the advantages of CAR, but, in addition, uses a certain temporal filter to distill pages with long-term utility from those with only short-term utility.