We study a competitive labor market with imperfect information. In our basic model, the labor market consists of heterogeneous workers and ex ante identical firms who have only imperfect private information about workers' productivities. Firms compete by posting wages in order to cherry-pick more productive workers from the applicant pool. The model predicts many important empirical regularities, including non-degenerated firm size distribution, persistent wage dispersion, and employer size-wage premium. We also consider extensions of the model where firms differ in either productivity or information about worker types, both generating assortative matching with a positive but imperfect correlation of worker and firm types. The main insight of this paper is that identical workers can get different wages depending on productivities of their coworkers in a competitive market with informational frictions. Our model also sheds light on inter-industry wage differential and sorting between industry and worker characteristics.


The introduction of imatinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, as first-line standard therapy in patients with unresectable, metastatic, or recurrent gastro-intestinal stromal tumor (GIST), strongly improved their treatment outcomes. However, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended for this drug due to the large inter-individual variability in plasma concentration when standard dose is administered. A Cmin higher than 760 ng/mL was associated with a longer progression free survival. Thus, a LC-MS/MS method has been developed and fully validated to quantify imatinib and its active metabolite, norimatinib, in finger-prick dried blood spot (DBS). The influence of hematocrit, sample homogeneity, and spot size and the correlation between finger-prick and venous DBS measurements were also assessed. The method showed a good linearity (R2 > 0,996) between 50–7500 ng/mL for imatinib and 10–1500 ng/mL for norimatinib. Analytes were extracted from DBS samples by simply adding to 3 mm-discs 150 μL of acidified methanol containing IMA-D8. The collected extract was then injected on a LC Nexera system in-house configured for the on-line cleanup, coupled with an API-4000 QT. The chromatographic separation was conducted on a Synergi Fusion-RP column (4 μm, 2x50 mm) while the trapping column was a POROS R1/20 (20 μm, 2x30 mm). The total run time was 8.5 min. DBSs stored at room temperature in plastic envelopes containing a silica-gel drying bag were stable up to 16 months. The proposed method was applied to 67 clinical samples, showing a good correlation between patients' finger-prick DBS and plasma concentrations, measured by the reference LC-MS/MS method, internally validated. Imatinib and norimatinib concentrations found in finger-prick DBS were adjusted by hematocrit or by an experimental correction factor to estimate the corresponding plasma measurements. At the best of our knowledge, the proposed LC-MS/MS method is the first analytical assay to measure imatinib and norimatinib in DBS samples.


The UHF band between 470-790 MHz, currently occupied by digital ter- restrial TV (DTT) distribution in Europe, is widely regarded as a premium spectrum band for providing mobile coverage. With the exponential increase in wireless data traffic in recent years, there has been growing interests in gaining access to this spectrum band for wireless broadband services. The secondary access in TV White Space is considered as one cost-effective way to reuse the spectrum unoccupied by the primary DTT network. On the other hand, the declining influence of DTT and the converging trends of video con- sumption on TV and mobile platforms are new incentives for the regulator to reconsider the optimal utilization of the UHF broadcast band. The proposal to re-farm the UHF band for a converged content distribution network was born under theses circumstances.This thesis intends to develop a methodology for evaluating the technical performance of these options for utilizing UHF broadcast band and quantify- ing their gains in terms of achievable extra capacity and spectrum savings. For the secondary access in TV white space, our study indicates a considerable po- tential for low power secondary, which is mostly limited by the adjacent chan- nel interference generated from the densely deployed secondary devices due to the cumulative effect of multichannel interference. On the other hand, this potential does not translate directly into capacity for a WiFi-like secondary system based on CSMA/CA protocol, as the network congestion and self- interference within the secondary system has a greater impact on the network throughput than the primary interference constraint.Our study on the cellular content distribution network reveals more po- tential benefits for re-farming the UHF broadcast band and reallocating it for a converged platform. This platform is based on cellular infrastructure and can provide TV service with the same level of quality requirement as DTT by delivering the video content via either broadcast or unicast as the situa- tion dictates. We have developed a resource manage framework to minimize its spectrum requirement for providing TV service and identified a significant amount of spectrum that can be reused by the converged platform to provide extra mobile broadband capacity in urban and sparsely populated rural areas.Overall, we have arrived at the conclusion that the concept of cellular con- tent distribution in a re-farmed UHF band shows a more promising prospect than the secondary access in TV white space in the long run. Nevertheless, low power secondary is still considered as a flexible and low-cost way to exploit the underutilized spectrum in the short term, despite its uncertainty in future availability. On the other hand, the re-farming of UHF broadcast band is a long and difficult regulation process with substantial opposition from the in- cumbent.The results from this study could serve as input for future regulatory decisions on the UHF band allocation and cost-benefit analysis for deploying new systems to access this spectrum band.


This research project aims to reveal a specific mathematical pattern in the development of the common law. Its starting point is a prediction inspired by modern complexity theory that in a case law system the frequency of more important and of less important decisions should follow a socalled power law distribution (which is closely related to Zipf's Law). This hypothesis is verified by analysing the case law of New Zealand.
For readers from the legal profession not acquainted with this kind of analysis, a brief introduction to Zipf's Law is provided. While the mechanisms behind this phenomenon are the subject of ongoing debate, this study is based on the theoretical model of complex systems known as notion of selforganised criticality. It is inspired mainly by the work of the biologist Stuart Kauffman and can be regarded as an application of his ideas to the area of law.
To provoke further thought, some related concepts of the evolution of law are discussed. However, the substantive part of this study is the empirical analysis. The overall aim of the study is to shed some light on the question of how the law develops (or is developed).


Collaboration between employees in the domain of information security efficiently mitigates the effect of information security attacks on organisations. Collaboration means working together to do or to fulfil a shared goal, the target of which in this paper is the protection of the information assets in organisations. Information Security Collaboration (ISC) aims to aggregate the employees' contribution against information security threats. This study clarifies how ISC is to be developed and how it helps to reduce the effect of attacks. The socialisation of collaboration in the domain of information security applies two essential theories: Social Bond Theory (SBT) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). The results of the data analysis revealed that personal norms, involvement, and commitment significantly influence the employees' attitude towards ISC intention. However, contrary to our expectation, attachment does not influence the attitude of employees towards ISC. In addition, attitudes towards ISC, perceived behavioural control, and personal norms significantly affect the intention towards ISC. The findings also show that the intention for ISC and organisational support positively influence ISC, but that trust does not significantly affect ISC behaviour.


Meter-scale uniform g-CN nanorod (NR) arrays were directly grown on an FTO glass using an unprecedented vacuum magnetic filtered arc ion plating system for enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. The construction of the g-CN film is based on the substrate deposition of the direct reaction of ionized carbon and nitrogen species, a gas-based bottom-up approach, distinctly different from the traditional powder deposition and thermal vapor pathways. The g-CN film exhibits obvious advantages over conventional ones in the application of PEC: (1) direct reaction of C and N species allows the formation of the g-CN without intralayer hydrogen bonds, which significantly reduces intralayer photogenerated charge carriers transfer resistance; (2) the g-CN exhibits the NR array structure and comprises considerably numerous layers stacking by stacking and vertically standing on the FTO substrate, which facilitates the photogenerated charges transfer and increases the contact area with electrolyte; (3) the robust mechanical strength of the g-CN NR film with the FTO substrate not only favors the effective charge transport but also allows long-term practical application against abrasion; (4) the gas-based bottom-up approach enables the g-CN to easily couple with, including but not limited to, TiO2 NR array to form heterostructures to further improve charge separation.

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This investigation was conducted to determine the integrated effects of concentration and duration of ozone exposure on the injury, growth, and mineral composition of pinto bean (L.) during rapid vegetative growth and to evaluate the interactive effects of salinity.Plants were grown in controlled environment chambers in non-saline and two saline nutrients solution cultures having osmotic potentials of −0.4, −2.4, and −4.4 bars, respectively. Ozone-free plants were compared with plants treated daily for 2 weeks with ozone doses of from 0.15 to 0.90 ppm-hour.Plant injury and reduction in growth were sigmoidal functions of ozone dose. Plant tolerance thresholds were found for both concentration and duration of ozone exposure. Daily exposures above threshold levels produced cumulative injury that progressed from the primary leaves to subsequent trifoliate leaves. Although salinity suppressed plant growth, it extended the tolerance threshold for duration of ozone exposure and significantly reduced the injury by ozone. Ozone decreased Ca, Mg, K, and N contents of the leaves, increased stem contents of these elements, and had relatively little effect on root contents. However, no serious nutritional imbalances were observed.


Summary
Chickpea is one of the most consumed legumes in the world. The classification of chickpea based on the size and morphological properties is important for the market. The objective of this study is to design and implement a computer vision system (CVS) integrated with artificial neural networks (ANN) for quality evaluation of chickpeas based on their size, colour, and surface morphology. The system is composed of a flat bed scanner for acquiring digital image and software that has been developed in Matlab for image analysis. Physical properties (length, width and volume) of the samples of chickpeas as well as their colour properties and surface characteristics have been determined by using the system, and results have been validated. High correlations have been found between the results from ANN-integrated CVS and those obtained by callipers or professionally trained inspectors based on the experiments. Overall, percentages of correct classification have been determined as 95.4%, 87.6%, and 96.0% for colour, surface morphology, and shape evaluations, respectively.


This paper analyzes how collective leadership develops from more individualistic leadership through ethnographic analysis of the rise of urban environmental stewardship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Longitudinal analysis of a 30-year period reveals how leadership shifted from being highly individualistic, to become more pluralistic, and ultimately more collective. I demonstrate how specifying the location of leadership action in the case addresses ambiguity regarding the definitions of and distinctions among collective, plural, and integrative leadership. I identify two processes that helped to relocate leadership from more individualistic to increasingly collective, emergent spaces, namely fueling a public imaginary and organizing inclusively. These processes were central to connecting and mutually advancing collective leadership and collective impact.


Accumulation and retention of 125Sb by short-necked clam Tapes japonica were investigated in order to elucidate the uptake mechanism of the nuclide in marine bivalves. It was found that the accumulation of 125Sb by the clam from the environmental water showed an initially relative rapid increase, followed by a gradual increasing pattern during the experimental period. The concentration factors for 125Sb in the clam at the end of the experimental period were obtained as 1.2 for the soft part and 4.2 for the shell. The loss of 125Sb accumulated in the whole clam showed an initial decrease, followed by two slow elimination patterns. The long-lived biological half-life for 125Sb in the clam was approximately 58 days. Regarding the influence of chelating agent and co-existing element on the accumulation of 125Sb by the clam, it was observed that the addition of stable antimony to the rearing sea watere enhanced the accumulation of 125Sb by the soft part and shell of the clam to some extent; whereas, the accumulation of 125Sb by the soft part and shell was not depressed in the presence of EDTA. The accumulation of 125Sb by the shell depends mostly on the surface adsorption phenomenon rather than that via metabolic process.


Abstract In the late 1980s, the commercialization of digital reproduction technology led copy art in a new direction, ushering in a new era of events with global impact and significance. Among these events was the second International Electrography and Copy Art Biennial, held in Valencia, Spain, in October 1988, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first electrophotographic copy. This landmark occasion marked the beginning of a new and prosperous digital era that would continue throughout the following decade and was spearheaded by artists of the so-called third generation.


Investors spend money and resources trying to reduce the environmental, social and governance risks in companies they own. If unattended, these risks may cause reputational damage not only to the portfolio firm but also to its owner. In this article, we study five Swedish national pension funds and the influence strategies used in shareholder engagement. Knowledge about influence strategies is important because successful shareholder engagements can lead to more sustainable corporate behaviour and a lower risk to the investor. In addition to the traditional power and legitimacy dependencies that have been reported as influential in deciding stakeholder salience, our findings reveal five additional factors useful for determining influence strategies in shareholder engagement. We provide a conceptual model showing how these factors interlink with choices of influence strategies, offering a practical use of this study. Stakeholder theory has been used as our theoretical frame of reference, based on existing influence strategy literature using a stakeholder—firm perspective.


Patient: Male, 73 Final Diagnosis: Bronchoesophageal fistula in endobronchial tuberculosis and mediastinal lymphadenopathy Symptoms: Nonproductive cough • weight loss Medication: Isoniazid • rifampin • pyrazinamide • ethambutol Clinical Procedure: Laser treatment Specialty: Pulmonology Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), a highly contagious infectious disease, is a significant public health problem all over the world and remains an important cause of preventable death in the adult population. Endobronchial TB is an unusual form of thoracic TB that may be complicated by tracheobronchial stenosis, and bronchoesophageal fistula formation is a very rare complication. Tubercular lymphadenitis can also lead to fistula formation through a process of caseum necrosis and opening of a fistula between the bronchus and oesophagus. Case Report: We report an uncommon case of thoracic TB in an immunocompetent 73-year-old Caucasian man who presented several problems: bronchoesophageal fistula, endobronchial TB, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy in the absence of contemporary parenchymal consolidation. Furthermore, he presented a normal chest radiograph and mostly unclear and non-specific symptoms at onset. Conclusions: We emphasize the need for a better knowledge of this illness and awareness that it may have an unusual presentation. In these cases, diagnosis and proper treatment can be delayed, with severe complications for the patient. Pulmonary TB remains a real diagnostic challenge: a normal chest radiograph and nonspecific symptoms do not allow us to exclude this persistent infectious disease.


Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is the ratio of the number of girls born to the number of boys. From the 1980s, the SRB in China has been below the normal level and has kept an overall decreasing trend till today. SRB and women's status are closely related, it is evident that a declining SRB indicates worsening female advantages. However, most relevant studies have been male-centered and inadequate in analyzing the consequences of the abnormal SRB in China. Instead, this paper will focus on the causal relation between the skewed SRB and women's human rights, so the existing and potential consequences which negatively affect women from the human rights perspective will be explored. Besides,the Chinese government has adopted many measures to control the distorted SRB, here the paper will try to evaluate them for improvement.


In this paper, we consider the Group Lasso estimator of the covariance matrix of a stochastic process corrupted by an additive noise. We propose to estimate the covariance matrix in a high-dimensional setting under the assumption that the process has a sparse representation in a large dictionary of basis functions. Using a matrix regression model, we propose a new methodology for high-dimensional covariance matrix estimation based on empirical contrast regularization by a group Lasso penalty. Using such a penalty, the method selects a sparse set of basis functions in the dictionary used to approximate the process, leading to an approximation of the covariance matrix into a low dimensional space. Consistency of the estimator is studied in Frobenius and operator norms and an application to sparse PCA is proposed.


The increased power consumption and continued miniaturization of high-powered electronic components has presented many challenges to their thermal management. To improve the efficiency and reliability of these devices, the high amount of heat that they generate must be properly removed. In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical model has been developed and experimentally validated for several manifold heat sink designs. The goal was to enhance the heat sink's thermal performance while reducing the required pumping power by lowering the pressure drop across the heat sink. The considered designs were benchmarked to a commercially available heat sink in terms of their thermal and hydraulic performances. The proposed manifolds were designed to distribute fluid through alternating inlet and outlet branched internal channels. It was found that using the manifold design with 3 channels reduced the thermal resistance from 0.061 to 0.054 °C/W with a pressure drop reduction of 0.77 kPa from the commercial cold plate. A geometric parametric study was performed to investigate the effect of the manifold's internal channels width on the thermohydraulic performance of the proposed designs. It was found that the thermal resistance decreased as the manifold's channel width decreased, up until a certain width value, below which the thermal resistance started to increase while maintaining low pressure drop values. Where the thermal resistance significantly decreased in the 7 channels design by 16.4% and maintained a lower pressure drop value below 0.6 kpa.


Prevalent imitation learning methods seek to produce behavior that matches or exceeds average human performance. This often prevents achieving expert-level or superhuman performance when identifying the better demonstrations to imitate is difficult. We instead assume demonstrations are of varying quality and seek to induce behavior that is unambiguously better (i.e., Pareto dominant or minimally subdominant) than all human demonstrations. Our minimum subdominance inverse optimal control training objective is primarily defined by high quality demonstrations; lower quality demonstrations, which are more easily dominated, are effectively ignored instead of degrading imitation. With increasing probability, our approach produces superhuman behavior incurring lower cost than demonstrations on the demonstrator's unknown cost function—even if that cost function differs for each demonstration. We apply our approach on a computer cursor pointing task, producing behavior that is 78% superhuman, while minimizing demonstration suboptimality provides 50% superhuman behavior— and only 72% even after selective data cleaning.


The ever increasing speed of Internet connections has led to a point where it is actually possible for every end user to seamlessly share data on Internet. Peer-To-Peer (P2P) networks are typical of this evolution. The goal of our paper is to show that thanks to self-adaptive assignment techniques, server-less P2P networks can efficiently deal with very large environments such as met in the geovisualisation area. Our method takes advantage of a hierarchical and progressive data structure that describes the environment. In order to assess the global efficiency of this P2P technique, we have implemented a dedicated real time simulator. Experimentation results are presented using a hierarchical LOD model of a very large urban environment.


We present a model of optimal government policy when policy choices may exacerbate socio-political instability (SPI). We show that optimal policy that takes into account SPI transforms a standard concave growth model into a model with both a poverty trap and endogenous growth. The resulting equilibrium dynamics inherit the properties of government policies and need not be monotone. Indeed, for a broad set of conditions we demonstrate that government policy is unable to eliminate the poverty trap; when these conditions do not hold, "most" countries eventually reach a balanced growth path. The predictions of the model are tested by developing three new measures of SPI for a panel of 58 countries. Estimating optimal policies and the growth equation derived from the model reveals strong support for the theory. In particular, we show via simulations that optimal funding for public investment and the police cause a typical developing economy to expand on a quasi-linear growth path, with the baseline level of SPI determining whether growth is positive or negative.


Although students' learning outcomes are not expected to be equal, the differences should not be accounted for by the differences in school resources. Equality of opportunity in financing schools' resources is evidenced by the lack of a relationship between the availability of school resources and differences in students' learning outcomes. Tharaka Nithi County, one of the 47 Counties in Kenya, has consistently had a high difference in students' learning outcomes in different public day secondary schools. This study sought to establish if differences in students' learning outcomes in Tharaka Nithi County evidence equality of opportunity. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed-method research design. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 738 (368 male and 370 female) Form 3 students and 738 (368 male and 370 female) parents of the Form 3 students. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data was thematically analysed. The study findings revealed that there was a strong statistically positive significant relationship, r = 0.674 at p < .01 between school resource characteristics and differences in student's examination scores. The study also established that differences in public day secondary school resource characteristics accounted for a 6.1% difference in students' learning outcomes after controlling for all the predictor variables which included student's household characteristics, student's parental/guardian characteristics, and student's conduct characteristics. The study thus recommends that financing of public day secondary school resources should focus on equity given the inequality of opportunity in secondary education attainment.


Climate change has become one of the biggest issue across the globe as most countries have been bearing the consequences of this phenomenon on a global scale. Countries have been drafting environmental regulations to help mitigate the environmental pollution caused by climate change. Therefore, the implications of environmental policies in various sectors of the economy are dependent on state regulations. The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of corporate governance on environmental performance. Furthermore, this study examines the impact of institutional regulations on the relationship of corporate governance and firms' environmental performance. The data was collected from the top 120 manufacturing companies that are based in Pakistan, India, China and Bangladesh. The binary logit regression methodology was employed in this study. The results indicate that the attributes of corporate governance have a positive and significant impact on green performance. In addition, the results were also positive and significant on the moderating role of institutional regulation for corporate governance and firm performance. Hence, based on the empirical findings, this study recommends strict environmental institutional regulations to further enhance environmental performance. Keywords:Green performance, corporate governance, environment, institutional policies


Contains the tenth chapter of The Dream and the Reality, an unpublished literary work by John McLaren on the study of the realist tradition in Australian fiction. The purpose of McLaren's study is to explore the attitude of Australians to their country which has always been ambiguous and show how some Australian fiction writers reacted to this particular experience and environment, how they have treated the dream and how they have dealt with reality. In this chapter McLaren reviews the literary works of Peter Mathers and David Ireland, the two writers who share an utterly bleak view of human possibilities, but whose work contains a comic energy which seems to contradict the futility of the world they depict. In the work of both writers the hopes of the characters portrayed and the expectations of the readers are constantly disappointed by the sheer perversity of things and of people. Both writers show a world where everything is possible and nothing is likely. In Ireland's work, things dominate, and human beings merely struggle to find a tiny area of freedom where they can briefly be themselves. In Mathers' work, people are thwarted by the randomness of events, the perversity of other people, or the stubbornness of physical facts. The machine works too well, the victim is decapitated, and the hero finds himself made a scapegoat. In both writers, however, this capriciousness of fate is combated by an endurance of the human spirit, which appears both in the central characters and in the exuberant ingenuity of the writing itself.


The present work investigates the potential of Lantana camara, a forest waste, as an adsorbent for the phenol reduction in wastewater. Batch studies were conducted with adsorbent treated with HCl and KOH to determine the influence of various experimental parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and phenol concentration. The experimental conditions were optimized for the removal of phenol from wastewater. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of phenol were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters like the Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°), and entropy (ΔS°) were also determined and they showed that the adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic in the temperature range of 298–328 K. The kinetic data were fitted with pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data that followed Langmuir model with the monolayer adsorption capacity was found to be 112.5 mg/g and 91.07 mg/g for adsorbent treated with HCl and KOH, respectively, for the concentration of phenol ranging from 25 to 250 mg/L. This indicates that the Lantana camara was a promising adsorbent for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions.


Despite its potential benefits, access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) is often restricted based on blood glucose monitoring frequency. We aim to study if CGM efficacy depends on blood test strip (TS) usage prior to CGM initiation. IBM MarketScan™ Commercial Claims and Medicare Supplemental databases were used in this retrospective, observational analysis. MarketScan contains insurance billing claims for inpatient, outpatient and pharmacy expenses. Cohort requirements included: de novo CGM purchase in 2017 Q1-2018 Q2, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, ≥18 years old, fast- or short-acting insulin, ≥ 6-months pre-CGM observation time. Blood TS usage was determined based on purchases 6 months pre-CGM. Primary outcome was acute diabetes events (ADE): hospitalization with hyper-/hypoglycemia as the primary diagnosis or outpatient emergency associated with a code of hyper-/hypoglycemia. Andersen-Gill Cox regression compared event rates 6-months pre-/post-CGM. The cohort (n=12,521, age 43.8±15.2 years, 50.8% male, 77% type 1) experienced a reduction in ADE from 0.245 to 0.132 events/patient-year (HR: 0.54 [0.49 0.59]; P: Initiation of CGM use was associated with reduced ADE regardless of baseline blood TS usage. Disclosure I.B. Hirsch: Consultant; Self; Abbott, Bigfoot Biomedical, Roche Diabetes Care. Research Support; Self; Medtronic, Omnipod. M.S.D. Kerr: Employee; Self; Abbott. G.J. Roberts: Employee; Self; Abbott. D. Souto: Employee; Self; Abbott. Y. Nabutovsky: Employee; Self; Abbott. R.M. Bergenstal: Consultant; Self; Ascensia Diabetes Care, Johnson & Johnson. Other Relationship; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Hygieia, Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk A/S, Onduo, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi, UnitedHealth Group.


Introduction Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has recently emerged as a highly-effective therapy for recurrent/ refractory Clostridium difficile (recently re-named Peptoclostridium difficile) infection (CDI); however, the specific mechanisms underlying the efficacy of FMT remain largely unclear. Given that different bile salt metabolites differentially affect C. difficile's ability to germinate and grow both in vitro and in vivo, we hypothesised that CDI is characterised by perturbed bile acid metabolism, and that FMT may exert its efficacy through re-establishment of gut microbiota that restore this process to normal. Methods Stool samples were collected from healthy volunteer donors participating in an FMT programme, whilst serial stool samples were collected from a patient successfully treated with FMT for refractory CDI both pre- and post-transplantation. Samples were assayed for structure of the gut microbiota using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, and for bile acid profiling via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Presence of bile salt hydrolases (responsible for deconjugation of glycine- and taurine-conjugated primary bile acids within the gut) was assessed via PCR of bacterial DNA extracted from stool. Results A 61 year-old man with refractory CDI was treated with FMT. He demonstrated a modest improvement in diarrhoea after a first FMT, but an immediate, complete and sustained resolution of symptoms after a second FMT from a different donor (performed two weeks after the first). 16 S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated a pattern of faecal bacterial communities that closely resembled that of the healthy donors by one week after the second FMT. Faecal LC-MS analysis revealed the patient's gut bile acid profile pre-FMT to be enriched sixfold in taurocholic acid (a potent trigger for C. difficile spore germination in vitro). Post-FMT, the patient's gut bile acid profile resembled that of healthy donors, with loss of taurocholate and enrichment of secondary bile acids (which are recognised in vitro as inhibitors of C. difficile growth). PCR of bacterial DNA extracted from faeces displayed no detectable BSH genes in the recipient either pre-FMT or by one week following the first FMT, but BSH presence was confirmed in the recipient by one week following the second FMT, as well as in both donors. Conclusion FMT may restore bile-degrading members of the gut microbiota, and consequently restore a normal bile acid metabolism to the gut that protects against C. difficile germination. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Objectives: We describe a new evidence-based method for screening and evaluating emerging medical technologies. Washington State agencies, under legislative direction, have granted authority to its agency Medical Directors and policy leaders to make coverage decisions on medical technologies using a "dossier" process. The dossier process is employed when technology advocates or manufacturers request Washington State healthcare purchasers to pay for new and emerging technologies. This offers the advocate an opportunity to submit scientific evidence and information classically associated with a more formal health technology assessment. Methods: The submitted information is independently reviewed and summarized for Washington State's public healthcare purchasers allowing a more standardized coverage decision for all public purchasers in Washington State. Results: This process has allowed Washington State to make twelve evidence-based coverage decisions at a fraction of the cost of classic technology assessment. To date, of twelve reviews over 6 years, one health technology was approved for coverage, ten were not covered and one did not require a coverage decision. Conclusions: This evidence-based dossier process has yielded high-value coverage decisions of new and emerging medical technologies for public healthcare purchasers in Washington State.


Artemia has been considered as one of the most important live diets for crustacean and finfish larviculture as well as broodstocks. However, the basal nutrient of Artemia has been reported to be poor in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's) especially eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), essential fatty acids for larval normal growth and gonad maturity in shrimp broodstocks. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the effect of different microalgal diets on fatty acid content, growth performances and survival rate of Artemia francisciana. The study was performed by culturing instar I nauplii of A. franciscana for 12 days at a stocking density of 100 nauplii/L and fed with one of these microalgae: Chaetoceros calcitrans(T1), Dunaliella salina(T2), Tetraselmis chuii (T3), and Nanochloropsis oculata (T4). The results showed that the different microalgal diets affected fatty acid content, growth and survival rate of A. fransicana. The highest DHA content was obtained from those Artemia fed on D. salina, p<0.05. While DHA content of A. fransciscana fed with the other three microalgae was not significantly different, p>0.05. Another result indicated that EPA contents in the Artemia biomass were not significantly affected by the microalgal diets, p>0.05. In terms of growth and survival rate, A. franciscana fed on C. calcitrans and T. chuiihad better growth and survival rate compared to that of Artemia fed on either D. salina or N. oculata, p<0.05. Due to the faster growth, it was also observed that Artemia fed on T. chuii started producing eggs on day 12. Further studies by feeding the Artemia with a mix of microalgal species either a mix of T. chuii and D. salina or a mix of C. calcitrans and D. salina are highly recommended for better PUFA contents, specific growth rate (SGR) as well as survival rates of Artemia.


We have shown that the minimal enhancer fragment present in the 3'-flanking region of the human beta-globin gene contains four regions that bind nuclear proteins in vitro. By using gel mobility shift and DNase I footprinting assays, we were able to show that each of these regions binds an erythroid-cell-specific nuclear factor which we name NF-E1. This factor is present in erythroid cells at different developmental stages of globin gene expression. The recognition sequence of this protein (A/C Py T/A ATC A/T Py) is also present in the intragenic enhancer and the promoter of the beta-globin gene as well as in the promoter of other erythroid-cell specific genes. In addition to NF-E1, each of the four binding regions interacts with at least one other protein factor.


Federated learning (FL) has been proposed to allow collaborative training of machine learning (ML) models among multiple parties to keep their data private and only model updates are shared. Most existing approaches have focused on horizontal FL, while many real scenarios follow a vertically-partitioned FL setup, where a complete feature set is formed only when all the datasets from the parties are combined, and the labels are only available to a single party. Privacy-preserving vertical FL is challenging because complete sets of labels and features are not owned by one entity. Existing approaches for vertical FL require multiple peer-to-peer communications among parties, leading to lengthy training times, and are restricted to (approximated) linear models and just two parties. To close this gap, we propose FedV, a framework for secure gradient computation in vertical settings for several widely used ML models such as linear models, logistic regression, and support vector machines. FedV removes the need for peer-to-peer communication among parties by using functional encryption schemes and works for larger and changing sets of parties. We empirically demonstrate the applicability for multiple ML models and show a reduction of 10%-70% of training time and 80% to 90% in data transfer to the comparable state-of-the-art approaches.


This volume provides a comprehensive study of widowhood in Medieval Britain based on literary and historical sources from the seventh to the fifteenth centuries. The book is divided into two parts: the first deals with the Anglo-Saxon period, the second with the Medieval period. Because widows shared certain preoccupations specific to their status, the two parts deal with similar topics: the fundamental role played by the Church in the doctrine of marriage, and the dominant male discourse about widows. Widows had a specific legal status: special laws affected their lives and their relationships with their children and other relatives. Much attention is consequently devoted to family structures and to the legal and social aspects of inheritance. The volume also explores the various options widowhood offered and the highly debated degree of independence widows had in their life choices.


We examine the relation between short-sale constraints and stock price crash risk. To establish causality, we take advantage of a regulatory change from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)'s Regulation SHO pilot program, which temporarily lifted short-sale constraints for randomly designated stocks. Using Regulation SHO as a natural experiment setting in which to apply a difference-in-differences research design, we find that the lifting of short-sale constraints leads to a significant decrease in stock price crash risk. We further investigate the possible underlying mechanisms through which short-sale constraints affect stock price crash risk. We provide evidence suggesting that lifting of short-sale constraints reduces crash risk by constraining managerial bad news hoarding and improving corporate investment efficiency. The results of our study shed new light on the cause of stock price crash risk as well as the roles that short sellers play in monitoring managerial disclosure strategies and real investment decisions.


The idea of males being more attracted to larger females alone has already been studied and supported; therefore we decided to experiment with two models to see if a group of larger females would be more appealing than just one female. We hypothesized that the male guppy will be more attracted to a group of two larger females. We ran ten trials with the control, on the right side, and the experimental group, on the left side, in a tank with one male guppy, for five minutes at a time. Our results supported our hypothesis and found that the male guppies spent more time on the experimental side.


COVID-19 is not spreading over a level playing field; structural racism is embedded within the fabric of American culture, infrastructure investments, and public policy, and fundamentally drives inequities. The same racism that has driven the systematic dismantling of the American social safety-net has also created the policy recipe for American structural vulnerability to the impacts of this and other pandemics. The Bronx provides an important case study for investigating the historical roots of structural inequities showcased by this pandemic; current lived experiences of Bronx residents are rooted in the racialized dismantling of New York City's public infrastructure and systematic disinvestment. The story of the Bronx is repeating itself, only this time with a novel virus. In order to address the root causes of inequities in cases and deaths due to COVID-19, we need to focus not just on restarting the economy, but on reimagining the economy, divesting of systems rooted in racism and the devaluation of Black and Brown lives.


This study investigated the adequacy of a rating scale with a large number of response categories that is often used in panel surveys for assessing diverse aspects of job satisfaction. An inappropriate scale usage is indicative of overstraining respondents and of diminished psychometric scale quality. The mixed Item Response Theory (IRT) approach for polytomous data allows exploring heterogeneous patterns of inappropriate scale usage in form of avoided categories and response styles. In this study, panel data of employees (n = 7036) on five aspects of job satisfaction measured on an 11-point rating scale within the "Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia" (wave 2001) were analyzed. A three-class solution of the restricted mixed generalized partial credit model fit the data best. The results showed that in no class the 11-point scale was appropriately used but that the number of categories used was reduced in all three classes. Respondents of the large class (40%) appropriately differentiate between up to six categories. The two smaller classes (33 and 27%) avoid even more categories and show some kind of extreme response style. Furthermore, classes differ in socio-demographic and job-related factors. In conclusion, a two- to six-point scale without the middle point might be more adequate for assessing job satisfaction.


This chapter has reviewed the specific techniques of measuring fitness for work in individuals with psychiatric impairment. The discussion also considered the estimate of risk associated with various specific conditions and diagnoses. The use of psychiatric measures in work-fitness estimation is warranted in the following situations: 1. applicants with known or suspect history of psychiatric disorder; 2. employees returning to work after an episode of emotional illness or substance abuse; 3. employees referred to the medical department by management for evaluation of performance decrement, absence, abrupt indebtedness, unusual behavior, etc.; and 4. individuals evaluated for high stress or high risk jobs. Applicants' evaluations begin with a thorough medical history, a physical examination, a mental status examination, and basic laboratory studies. The personal history must include a complete work history, with particular attention paid to job duration and reasons for leaving employment. The mental status may be extended by specialized scales, e.g., the Griffiths work behavior rating scale. Unless an applicant has evidence of cognitive dysfunction, the usual battery of psychometric tests will not be helpful. Instruments that measure self-concept and ego strength, e.g., the Stotsky-Weinberg Sentence Completion Test and Miskimins Self-Goal-Other Test, may assist in resolving difficult questions about work fitness, especially in people with a history of schizophrenia. When an employee returns to work after an episode of psychiatric illness, the major questions for the occupational physician are: Is this person capable of returning to his current job? If not, what type of work is he capable of performing? In this instance, the fitness evaluation must add management data about the job to medical data about the patient. The patient-job fit is the crucial issue. For example, a socially-isolated, withdrawn paranoid schizophrenic functioned adequately for years as a third-shift computer operator. The scale of his operational responsibilities allowed him to work alone most of the time, a work environment unsatisfactory to most people but quite suitable for him. To aid in maintaining patient compliance with the treating physician's regimen, the patient should be asked to authorize release of medical information about the illness and to allow continued contact between the occupational physician and the treating doctor. Regularly scheduled follow-up visits are very helpful in maintaining patients on the job. They should include a brief interval history, an abbreviated mental status, relevant laboratory data (e.g., urine chromatography), and support.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Objective The public health threats stress and adiposity have previously been associated with each other. Longitudinal studies are needed to reveal whether this association is bidirectional and the moderating factors. Methods In the longitudinal Children's Body Composition and Stress study, 316 children (aged 5–12 years) had measures of stress (questionnaires concerning negative life events, problem behavior, and emotions) and adiposity (body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and fat percentage) in three waves at 1-year intervals. The bidirectionality of the association between stress and adiposity was examined using cross-lagged analyses. We tested moderation by cortisol and life-style (physical activity, screen time, food consumption, eating behavior and sleep duration). Results Adiposity (body mass index: &bgr; = 0.48 and fat percentage: &bgr; = 0.18; p < .001) were associated with subsequent increased stress levels, but stress was not directly related to subsequent increases in adiposity indices. Cortisol and life-style factors displayed a moderating effect on the association between stress and adiposity. Stress was positively associated with adiposity in children with high cortisol awakening patterns (&bgr; = 0.204; p = .020) and high sweet food consumption (&bgr; = 0.190; p = .031), whereas stress was associated with lower adiposity in the most active children (&bgr; = −0.163; p = .022). Conclusions Stress is associated with the development of children's adiposity, but the effects depend on cortisol levels and life-style factors. This creates new perspectives for multifactorial obesity prevention programs. Our results also highlight the adverse effect of an unhealthy body composition on children's psychological well-being.


This article describes a model that combines the ideas of dynamic continuous credit rating, stress risk analysis, and a probabilistic view of losses. The article defines a breakpoint, a market scenario out of a sorted set that forces a non-agency bond to lose its first dollar of principal; a breakpoint ratio, an estimate of distance to default that is used as a basis for dynamic rating; and a breakpoint grid, a set of stress scenarios sorted in order of increasing losses that is useful for calculating a breakpoint ratio. A sample portfolio loss report is presented that provides the necessary information to assess credit risk; it combines the assessment of a portfolio's credit risk, in terms of both loss levels and odds of occurrence, with a probability analysis.


Objectives: The aim of financial Inclusion schemes is to allow the poorer sections to avail themselves various financial products and services through bank account. This study is an attempt to examine the knowledge level of Jan DhanYojana schemes and usage / adoption of scheme benefits by the Farmers of Mulshi Taluka of Pune District. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This paper carries forward the data and information collected through structured interview schedule and discussions. The general information of banking habits, awareness level and using the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) Scheme, etc were analyzed especially the first phase of PMJDY implementation. Purposive cum referral sampling method was carried out in the villages of Marunji, Hinjiwadi, and Punawale villages. Sample size consisted of 62 farmers. The data analysis was prepared using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square Test. Findings: There is no major impact of the Jan Dhan Yojana schemes especially of first phase implementation on farmers. Majority of them are not aware of the benefits derived from the financial inclusion mission. Most of the people are having partial information about the scheme, which is about the insurance schemes and nothing more. The result to verify the guesses shows clearly that there is no significant difference between the demographics such as gender, age, education, maritial status and monthly income of farmers and knowledge of Jan Dhan Yojana Scheme benefits. It is also viewed majority of them have opened Jan Dhan Yojana accounts in banks because it can be opened with zero balance. There is lack of financial literacy in rural areas. The findings corroborates with rest of the available studies. Creating consciousness to use the financial products and services through awareness campaign among the rural people as well as training to business correspondents is considered necessary for the success of Jan Dhan Yojana. Improvements: Further this paper could be enhanced by broadly discussing the other facets of financial Inclusion mission in the selected villages as well as for other talukas of the district.


. An often overlooked component of research on factors that drive amphibian geographic distributions is description of species range shape. Broad-scale range disjunction has implications for phylogeography, ecology, and conservation, but descriptions of fragmentation are usually based on subjective visual assessment of range maps. Here, we describe a method for objectively quantifying range fragmentation and use this method to describe the patterns of amphibian species range shapes in the southeastern United States, home to the highest amphibian species richness in North America. Species ranges varied widely in degree of fragmentation, from completely contiguous to highly fragmented, and degree of isolation of range fragments. Incorporating ecological niche models added information about finer-scale fragmentation. We also demonstrate that this method can add objectivity to studies that use ecological niche modeling to assess change in range fragmentation through time, enhancing research in conservation and biogeography.


The unfinished Reformation theme of the priesthood of all believers and the current Life of Faith Initiative of the ELCA can both benefit from attention to shepherding souls. Caring for one another includes caring for one's soul, one's whole life that includes faith in God. Restricting faith formation and outreach to church professionals and congregational programs is not enough to serve the spiritual wellbeing of followers of Jesus Christ. Part of the priesthood of all believers—as well as a part of shepherding—is the ability to speak the faith out loud. It is as simple as offering a blessing, a prayer or table grace, or simply listening attentively to a person's deeper issues of life that include faith, hope, and love.


Four types of SGOI (SiGe on Insulator) wafers were fabricated by the combination of SiGe epitaxial growth, SIMOX (Separation by Implanted Oxygen) processes and oxidation. By the cross-sectional TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) and EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy), it is confirmed that each wafer has smooth interface between a top layer (Si or SiGe) and a BOX (buried oxide) layer and Ge atoms in SiGe layer distribute homogeneously for SGOI_A and SGOI_B. Using high-resolution X-ray diffractometry, the crystallographic properties of SiGe layer are characterized with in-plane and out of plane diffraction methods. The lattice constants are calculated for the planes of perpendicular and parallel to wafer surface and the degree of relaxation are estimated for the SiGe layer of each wafer. The rocking curve measurements reveal that the lattice turbulence of SiGe layer is influenced by SIMOX process conditions, Ge content and the layer thickness.


Puerto Ricans have the highest prevalence, morbidity and mortality of asthma than any other ethnic group in the U.S. and can be triggered by different stimuli such as airborne Particle pollution (PM). PM transfers transition metals, including cooper, to the human airways generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Metallothionein protein (MT1A) is a free radical scavenger expected to be induced in lung cells by PM exposure; however, this has never been proven nor demonstrated. The hypothesis involves the amounts of PM10 in 2004, which would be significantly higher in the urban sites during months of March and June, thereby increasing PM metal exposure and inducing MT1A gene at the urban site. PM10 filters for Urban (Guaynabo) and rural (Fajardo) site were provided by the PREQB. Organic extracts were prepared from filters by means of Soxhlet Extraction and heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. BEAS-2B cells were cultured and exposed to PM10 during 4 hrs. RNA was isolated and relative mRNA levels of MT1A were determined by RT-PCR. Urban PM10 concentrations were 35 ug/m and 60ug/m for the months of March and June, respectively. Concentrations of copper for this urban PM10 were 29.6 ppm and 50.3 ppm, for March and June, respectively. Exposure to Cu leads to an MT1A expression in lung cells demonstrating its response to metal exposure. Cellular response for the mRNA expression of MT1A was greater in relative high inflammation markers than in PM10 samples.


The Kalak nappe complex of N Norway involves late Precambrian to Middle Cambrian sediments and a Precambrian gneiss basement on which the sediments were deposited. While the uppermost nappe in Finnmark was emplaced during the Silurian the members of the Kalak nappe complex were emplaced in late Cambrian/early Ordovician times during the Finnmarkian orogenic stage—probably the analogue of the Grampian stage of the British Caledonian. The tectonic-metamorphic events of the Finnmarkian stage were broadly coeval with the emplacement of basic and alkaline igneous bodies of the Seiland Igneous Province which were introduced from 552 ± 17 Ma (syn-D1) until 501 ± 27 Ma (late D2) and which themselves reflect magmatic evolution from tholeiitic to alkaline types.


Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are a set of tiny autonomous and interconnected devices. These nodes are scattered in a region of interest to collect information about the surrounding environment depending on the intended application. In many applications, the network is deployed in harsh environments such as battlefield where the nodes are susceptible to damage. In addition, nodes may fail due to energy depletion and breakdown in the onboard electronics. The failure of nodes may leave some areas uncovered and degrade the fidelity of the collected data. Therefore, establish a fault-tolerant mechanism is very crucial. Given the resource-constrained setup, this mechanism should impose the least overhead and performance impact. This paper focuses on recovery process after a fault detection phase in WSNs. We present an algorithm to recover faulty node called Distributed Fault-Tolerant Algorithm (DFTA).The performance evaluation is tested through simulation to evaluate some factors such as: Packet delivery ratio, control overhead, memory overhead and fault recovery delay. We compared our results with referenced algorithm: Fault Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks (FDWSN), and found that our DFTA performance outperforms that of FDWSN.


In all vertebrates, the neurogenic placodes are transient ectodermal thickenings that give rise to sensory neurons of the cranial ganglia. Epibranchial (EB) placodes generate neurons of the distal facial, glossopharyngeal and vagal ganglia, which convey sensation from the viscera, including pharyngeal endoderm structures, to the CNS. Recent studies have implicated signals from pharyngeal endoderm in the initiation of neurogenesis from EB placodes; however, the signals underlying the formation of placodes are unknown. Here, we show that zebrafish embryos mutant for fgf3 and fgf8 do not express early EB placode markers, including foxi1 and pax2a. Mosaic analysis demonstrates that placodal cells must directly receive Fgf signals during a specific crucial period of development. Transplantation experiments and mutant analysis reveal that cephalic mesoderm is the source of Fgf signals. Finally, both Fgf3 and Fgf8 are sufficient to induce foxi1-positive placodal precursors in wild-type as well as Fgf3-plus Fgf8-depleted embryos. We propose a model in which mesoderm-derived Fgf3 and Fgf8 signals establish both the EB placodes and the development of the pharyngeal endoderm, the subsequent interaction of which promotes neurogenesis. The coordinated interplay between craniofacial tissues would thus assure proper spatial and temporal interactions in the shaping of the vertebrate head.


ABSTRACT The author describes the practical application of crowdsourcing human intelligence as a form of collaborative music-making. Spectral decomposition of an original recording is used to derive components from original audio, and these are then offered as on-line tasks in which contributors are asked to record their own interpretations of each component. Components are then gathered in order to re-synthesize the original corpus, which is used to build an improvisation system. The author uses Bernard Stiegler's ecology of attention paradigm to situate crowdsourcing as an emerging form of public participation in music-making and Glenn Gould's ideas on performance and public access to position this participation as an act of composition. The work is offered as an illustration of the author's individual process as a composer for finding new notational pathways for collaborative practice.


Numerous hydrocarbon reservoirs originate from sediments deposited in deep water. This is why processes governing their settings have given rise to a growing interest, especially in the field of numerical simulation. Taking the problematic and constraints imposed by the geological data into account, the method that we have adopted to obtain a mathematical model for diluted and turbulent finite gravity flows is the following: the two-dimensional movement created by the instantaneous release of a finite volume of heavy fluid (suspension of sediment particles) into a lighter one (water), on variable slopes, is theoretically studied as a model for gravity flows. These flows develop a characteristic longitudinal structure, comparable to a deformable semi-lens, where the height is small relative to the length. This geometry is imposed on the gravity flow. Using the Boussinesq's approximation, the flow dynamics is supposed to be governed by a balance between gravity driving forces, inertia and turbulent friction. The study of the internal longitudinal flow velocity field allows a law of variation for the spreading velocity to be formulated. An equation, including effects of water incorporation at the suspension-ambient fluid interface, quantifies the variation of the total volume of the flow. Finally, a transport equation for the particles volume concentration is proposed assuming that: - turbulence creates a uniform density distribution in the flow; - particles are advected at the mean flow velocity; - particles fall out or are eroded in the viscous sublayer of the flow. The coupled system of the non-linear differential equations obtained is solved numerically. The model is then validated by experimental small-scale models realized by Laval (1988). The comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental results shows good agreement. An analytical study of the system, by local analysis methods for long times, shows the evolution of solutions when taking new physical phenomena into account and the consistency of the obtained numerical solutions. The obtained model leads to very low computational time on a microcomputer. Simple and complete, it constitutes a first step towards quantitative comprehension of the impact of external parameters-such as the nature and the amount of sediment supply and the geometry of the basin-on gravity flow dynamics and on the organization of subsequent depositional sequences (turbidites).


The uranyl-ion-imprinted and non-imprinted cross-linked chitosan resins possessing quinoline-8-ol moiety have been prepared. In all the cases, a significant imprinting effect was noticed on comparing percent extraction of uranium (VI). The resulting ion-imprinted resin was used for solid phase extractive preconcentration of uranium (VI) prior to its determination by spectrophotometry. Experimental variables that influence the quantitative extraction of uranium (VI) were optimized by both static and column methods. The retention capacity found for uranium (VI) was 218 mg g-1 of resin which is higher than the corresponding non-imprinted resins and other solid phase extraction sorbents possessing quinoline-8-ol moiety. The optimum pH range was 4.5-7.0. Uranium adsorbed was easily and quantitatively eluted with 1 mol L-1 HCl (10 mL) at a flow rate of 2 mL min-1. Interference studies showed a high tolerance of diverse ions and electrolyte species. The limit of detection was 2 µg L-1 and the dynamic linear range was 5-100 µg L-1. The accuracy of the developed method was tested with one uranium ore standard reference material. Furthermore, the proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of uranium in contaminated soil and sediment samples.


The next generation of adaptive optics systems will require tomographic reconstruction techniques to map the optical refractive index fluctuations, generated by the atmospheric turbulence, along the line of sight to the astronomical target. These systems can be enhanced with data from an external atmospheric profiler. This is important for Extremely Large Telescope scale tomography. Here we propose a new instrument which utilizes the generalized Scintillation Detection And Ranging (SCIDAR) technique to allow high sensitivity vertical profiles of the atmospheric optical turbulence and wind velocity profile above astronomical observatories. The new approach, which we refer to as 'stereo-SCIDAR', uses a stereoscopic system with the scintillation pattern from each star of a double-star target incident on a separate detector. Separating the pupil images for each star has several advantages including increased magnitude difference tolerance for the target stars; negating the need for re-calibration due to the normalization errors usually associated with SCIDAR; an increase of at least a factor of 2 in the signal-to-noise ratio of the cross-covariance function and hence the profile for equal magnitude target stars and up to a factor of 16 improvement for targets of 3 mag difference and easier real-time reconstruction of the wind-velocity profile. Theoretical response functions are calculated for the instrument, and the performance is investigated using a Monte Carlo simulation. The technique is demonstrated using data recorded at the 2.5-m Nordic Optical Telescope and the 1.0-m Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope, both on La Palma.


The mode field intensity, spot size, central peak intensity evolution and adiabaticity are calculated for different points along the transition of an optical fibre taper that adiabatically tapers from the standard 125 nm down to 1 µm and then to 440 nm diameter for low loss operation at 1550 nm wavelength. The first section of the taper is evaluated using a weak guidance approximation. The second section is treated as a three-index layer structure (double-clad) and evaluated with eigenvalue equations for three refractive indices. The third and thinnest section of the taper is studied using an exact mode eigenvalue equation. The results show that the fundamental mode for the third section has a discontinuity at the fibre edge with a peak intensity larger than the intensity at the centre of the fibre. Since the guiding by the core disappears in the first section of the taper, the mode field does not simply reduce monotonously along the taper with the outer diameter of the fibre. By this novel approach, and for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the taper shape that complies with the adiabaticity criterion, the mode intensity profile and the spot size (first Petermann definition) of the fundamental mode evolution, along their position on the taper are determined.


During tendon healing, macrophages are thought to be a key mediator of scar tissue formation, which prevents successful functional restoration of the tendon. However, macrophages are critical for successful tendon healing as they aid in wound debridement, extracellular matrix deposition, and promote fibroblast proliferation. Recent work has sought to better define the multi‐faceted functions of macrophages using depletion studies, while other studies have identified a tendon resident macrophage population. To begin to delineate the functions of tendon‐resident versus circulation‐derived macrophages, we examined the tendon healing phenotype in Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2) reporter (CCR2GFP/+), and knockout mice. CCR2 is a chemokine receptor primarily found on the surface of circulating bone marrow‐derived monocytes, with CCR2 being an important mediator of macrophage recruitment to wound environments. Surprisingly, CCR2GFP/+ cells were present in the tendon during adult homeostasis, and single‐cell RNA sequencing identified these cells as tendon‐resident macrophages and T cells. During both homeostasis and healing, CCR2 knockout resulted in a substantial decrease in CCR2GFP+ cells and pan‐macrophages. Additionally, loss of CCR2 resulted in reduced numbers of myofibroblasts and impeded functional recovery during late healing. This study highlights the heterogeneity of tendon‐resident and recruited immune cells and their contributions following injury, and establishes an important role for CCR2 in modulating both the adult tendon cell environment and tendon healing process.


Most of the forest area in the southern United States has been cleared, regrown, purchased, and sold several times over the last 200 years, and forest management practices generally focus on wood production. Agricultural expansion, use, and the abandonment of land have been the major forces behind land use change, and now human population expansion is a major issue. The land tenure system of the United States has allowed individuals and companies to acquire, use, and sell land since the time of European colonization; thus, private ownership of land dominates the southern region. However, new private, corporate, nonindustrial entities have arisen in the last 20 years, mainly as a result of tax policies and changes in industrial business organizations. While in Turkey planning systems are centralized, these systems vary by landowner group in the southern United States. They range from those that are relatively absent (nonindustrial private landowners) to those that are very formal (national forests). The management of forests in the southern United States is also guided by a number of federal, state, and local policies rather than a single enterprise plan, and these policies affect the direction of both public and private forest management. Specifically with regard to public land, the mission and objectives of forestry are similar to those in Turkey, except when considering the needs of local citizens, which has been given greater emphasis in Turkish forest management and planning.


Background The development of long read sequencing (LRS) has led to greater access to the human genome. LRS produces long read lengths at the cost of high error rates and has shown to be more useful in calling structural variants than short read sequencing (SRS) data. In this paper we evaluate how to use LRS data from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to call small variants in regions in- and outside the reach of SRS. Results Calling single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with ONT data has comparable accuracy to Illumina when evaluating against the Genome in a Bottle truth set v4.2. In the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and regions where mapping short reads is difficult, the F-measure of ONT calls exceeds those of short reads by 2-4% when sequence coverage is 20X or greater. We develop recommendations for how to perform small variant calling with LRS data and improve current approaches to the difficult regions by re-genotyping variants to increase the F-measure from 97.24% to 98.78%. Furthermore, we show how LRS can call variants in genomic regions inaccessible to SRS, including medically relevant genes such as STRC and CFC1B. Conclusions Although small variant calling in LRS data is still immature, current methods are clearly useful in difficult and inaccessible regions of the genome, enabling variant calling in medically relevant genes not accessible to SRS.


Endothelial cell motility is central to several biological processes including angiogenesis during wound healing, reendothelialization of vessel walls after damage and neovascularization of tumors. However, control mechanisms that stimulate and inhibit cell movement are not known. Our objective is to understand the signals that initiate movement of endothelial cells. To examine these questions, we used an in vitro wound model of quiescent pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers which were stimulated to move by mechanical injury. Ca 2 + signaling at the time of wounding produces long lasting effects on cell movement. We investigated whether new gene transcription after wounding might also stimulate endothelial cell movement. Specifically, we examined transcriptional activation of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) after injury. While many studies have reported that tumor and epithelial cells produce VEGF, there is conflicting evidence for VEGF synthesis by endothelial cells. We found that RNA transcripts for 121 and 165 amino acids VEGF isoforms were expressed in quiescent endothelial cells. These transcripts were also produced by ovarian cancer cells which induce angiogenesis in vivo. Surprisingly, after wounding, additional RNA transcripts encoding the 189 amino acid VEGF isoform were induced. VEGF might self-stimulate endothelial cells since exogenous, recombinant VEGF accelerated cell motility as much as basic fibroblast growth factor. Our data suggest that expression of the 189 amino acid VEGF isoform is upregulated in response to extravascular signals such as mechanical wounding. VEGF might act in an autocrine or paracrine manner to stimulate movement after wounding.


Theranostic agents or theranostic imaging as its name suggests is a combination of two terms-'diagnosis' & 'therapy'. Efforts are being made to combine both the terms into clinical formulations. This theranostic imaging is found to be very much significant to complex diseases like cancer and proliferative tumors especially because accurate photocopy for every tumor can be obtained by genomic and proteomic profiling and using such informations in theranostic agents can be constructed or modeled in such a way that it is specific in its action and selective towards the cancer cells only, without causing any adverse effects on the normal tissue cells. By means of nanoplatforms, we can conveniently deliver cancer cell specific targeting ligand or peptide inside the human body. Primary delivery approach comprises of nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, prodrugs, polymersomes, carbon nanotubes and polymeric micelles. Theranostic agents, i.e., therapeutic and diagnostic agents can be physically bound or else they can be bound with polymers which are exclusively designed and this together forms nanocarriers. Hence, the review highlights the advances of nanotechnology that has given us a platform for cancer detection and treatment.


We use the measurements by the Vector Electric Field Investigation (VEFI) on board the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite to study the local time and seasonal‐ and longitudinal‐dependent climatology of equatorial F region zonal plasma drifts during 2008–2011. These drifts are essentially westward during the day and eastward at night. Over Jicamarca Radio Observatory, the satellite measurements are in good agreement with incoherent scatter radar drifts. Our data show strong longitudinal variations, particularly in the South American sector during the solstices. The equinoctial data exhibit short‐lived and largely enhanced westward drifts near sunrise and wave‐4 structures from the early afternoon to late night equinoctial periods. The nighttime eastward drifts are largest near the western American sector at all seasons. The June solstice postmidnight eastward drifts decrease sharply at longitudes of about 310° and have much smaller values in the entire Eastern Hemisphere. We also briefly discuss the relationship between the longitude‐dependent vertical and zonal plasma drifts.


This special issue of the Canadian Journal of the Earth Sciences celebrates the career of two of the greatest geologists of our time, who, during the last three decades of the 20th and the first decade of the 21st century, have put their stamp on the tectonic interpretation of the Earth's behaviour (Burke also extended his efforts into extra-terrestrial space). How fortunate it is for geology that they are both still active and, by all appearances, are likely to remain so for some time to come. It is an immense honour for us as their students and fellow geologists to introduce this special issue with a few lines about them whom we have had the great privilege of knowing closely both as colleagues and as friends.

In the late 1960s, few geologists grasped the significance of plate tectonics because a broad view of the geological behaviour of our planet was the first necessity to be able to do so. In the 1960s, there were a number of such geologists with an encyclopaedic knowledge of global geology, yet not many of them became a Kevin Burke or John Dewey, because they lacked the other, in our view the more critical, component of a broad world-view of geology: A critical rational approach, i.e., the courage to ask the question: what ought it to be like? Such a question had long been anathema in the 20th century geology because of the prevalent Baconianism. As Tuzo Wilson wrote in his own autobiography "more geological mapping was both the method and the aim of geology" in those days.

Most geologists in the 20th century were instructed to learn "the basic principles" first and then be ready to question the data. However, those very principles that they were advised to learn (implicitly, without questioning) were the …


The crystal structure and solution conformation of Ac-Pro-deltaAla-NHCH3 and the solution conformation of Ac-Pro-(E)-deltaAbu-NHCH3 were investigated by X-ray diffraction method and NMR, FTIR and CD spectroscopies. Ac-Pro-deltaAla-NHCH3 adopts an extended-coil conformation in the crystalline state, with all-trans peptide bonds and the deltaAla residue being in a C5 form, phi(1)=-71.4(4), psi(1)=-16.8(4), phi(2)= -178.4(3) and psi(2)= 172.4(3) degrees. In inert solvents the peptide also assumes the C5 conformation, but a gamma-turn on the Pro residue cannot be ruled out. In these solvents Ac-Pro-(E)-deltaAbu-NHCH3 accommodates a beta(II)-turn, but a minor conformer with a nearly planar disposition of the CO-NH and C=C bonds (phi(2) approximately 0 degrees) is also present. Previous spectroscopic studies of the (Z)-substituted dehydropeptides Ac-Pro-(Z)-deltaAbu-NHCH3 and Ac-Pro-deltaVal-NHCH3 reveal that both peptides prefer a beta(II)-turn in solution. Comparison of conformations in the family of four Ac-Pro-deltaXaa-NHCH3 peptides let us formulate the following order of their tendency to adopt a beta-turn in solution: (Z)-deltaAbu > (E)-deltaAbu > deltaVal; deltaAla does not. None of the folded structures formed by the four compounds is stable in strongly solvating media.


We study the problem of A/D conversion and error-rate dependence of a class of nonbandlimited signals with finite rate of innovation. In particular, we analyze a continuous periodic stream of Diracs, characterized by a finite set of time positions and weights. Previous research has only considered sampling of this type of signals, ignoring the presence of quantization, necessary for any practical implementation. To this end, we first define the concept of consistent reconstruction and introduce corresponding oversampling in both time and frequency. High accuracy in a consistent reconstruction is achieved by enforcing the reconstructed signal to satisfy three sets of constraints, related to low-pass filtering, quantization and the space of continuous periodic streams of Diracs. We provide two schemes to reconstruct the signal. For the first one, we prove that the estimation mean squared error of the time positions is O(1/R/sub t//sup 2/R/sub f//sup 3/), where R/sub t/ and R/sub f/ are the oversampling ratios in time and frequency, respectively. For the second scheme, it is experimentally observed that, at the cost of higher complexity, the estimation accuracy lowers to O(1/R/sub t//sup 2/R/sub f//sup 5/). Our experimental results show a clear advantage of consistent over nonconsistent reconstruction. Regarding the rate, we consider a threshold crossing based scheme where, as opposed to previous research, both oversampling in time and in frequency influence the coding rate. We compare the error-rate behavior resulting, on the one hand, from increasing the oversampling in time and/or frequency, and, on the other hand, from decreasing the quantization stepsize.


This hard-hitting critique of US policy toward Latin America includes a historical sketch of US relations with individual countries. Black argues persuasively that the US has been the major oppponent of needed reforms in Latin American countries and the major proponent of predatory military establishments. The unwavering US goal, she believes, has been preservation of the established US empire in Latin America, but she cites differing strategies to attain this goal used by conservatives (President Reagan) and liberals (President Carter). She sees a weakening of US hegemony, however, as pressures for reform become irresistable...This book should be read by all who view US policy toward Latin America as benevolent. Choice


Objective Severe hypoxia develops close to the necrotic core of advanced human atherosclerotic plaques, but the energy metabolic consequences of this hypoxia are not known. In animal models, plaque hypoxia is also associated with depletion of glucose and ATP. ATP depletion may impair healing of plaques and promote necrotic core expansion. To investigate if ATP depletion is present in human plaques, we analyzed the distribution of energy metabolites (ATP, glucose, glycogen and lactate) in intermediate and advanced human plaques. Approach and results Snap frozen carotid endarterectomies from 6 symptomatic patients were analyzed. Each endarterectomy included a large plaque ranging from the common carotid artery (CCA) to the internal carotid artery (ICA). ATP, glucose, and glycogen concentrations were lower in advanced (ICA) compared to intermediate plaques (CCA), whereas lactate concentrations were higher. The lowest concentrations of ATP, glucose and glycogen were detected in the perinecrotic zone of advanced plaques. Conclusions Our study demonstrates severe ATP depletion and glucose deficiency in the perinecrotic zone of human advanced atherosclerotic plaques. ATP depletion may impair healing of plaques and promote disease progression.


An approach to optical packet switching is discussed, which uses small, simplified optical elements for traffic routing, merging, and shaping. The elements are constructed from 2 2 switches and optical delay lines, and may be implemented in a variety of technologies. They are designed for use with deflection routing, and even when using only six switches in a module, a deflection probability of 2.8 10 7 is possible with a load of 0.8. The modules may also be used as 2 1 mergers, where a deflection probability of 10 12 is possible with six switches and a total load of 0.8. The BER performance of the modules is simulated with respect to crosstalk, with even relatively poor switch devices of 18.5 dB isolation yielding a power penalty of less than 1 dB. A networking strategy radically different from today's is discussed, driven by the need to reduce hardware, software and operating costs.


The Sign Language Documentation Training Center (SLDTC) offers workshops and linguistic training to users of threatened sign languages: currently American Sign Language (ASL) and Hawai'i Sign Language (HSL). Currently in its third iteration, the SLDTC aims to train participants to document their own languages in ways that make the information useful for interested parties; it also aims to increase awareness of language endangerment and encourage signers to think critically about their participation in language revitalization. The final goal of successful completion of the workshops is for participants to publish an annotated ELAN file with various tiers for transcription, making this valuable information on sign languages available to a wider range of users.
 The philosophy behind the SLDTC has its roots in the Language Documentation Training Center (LDTC), a volunteer run initiative developed by graduate students at the Department of Linguistics at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. The LDTC was conceived as a way to document and conserve endangered languages spoken throughout the world, and targets the many speakers of these languages who come to UH Mānoa to study. Since its founding in 2004, the LDTC has documented over 100 languages, and made these projects available on the Internet, and in the Kaipuleohone archive. These workshops formed the basis of the workshops initially offered in the first iteration of the SLDTC.
 The acute need for sign language documentation was made apparent by the recent validation of Hawai'i Sign Language as a distinct and highly endangered language. This collaboration is taking place between Kapi'olani Community College, the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, and researchers from the Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Participants include Deaf researcher, Deaf community members, and ASL interpreters. The expertise available has allowed the workshop leaders to develop best practices for sign language documentation, and to get immediate feedback on these practices from native signers.
 The work has been rewarding, but not without its challenges. Finding users of endangered sign languages in the Honolulu metro area is problematic, as is adapting workshops and materials originally intended for spoken languages. Practical issues have also surfaced during past workshops: time, technological, and orthographic constraints. SLDTC participants have been motivated, insightful, and knowledgeable. They and the workshop leaders view the project as a success that contributes to linguists' knowledge of sign languages and the best practices for documenting them.


: The relative radiographic densities of the basic ingredients and commercially available plastic materials were studied with the help of a water phantom. Surprisingly, the relative radiographic density showed a wide spectrum from 0.25 to 7.0, as is shown in an extensive table. Particles with a relative radiographic density of greater than 4.0 can be identified over the lumbar spine. Particles with a density of less than 0.5 as well as greater than 1.5 can be seen in the soft tissues of the hand at 50 kv. All known plastics have higher radiographic transparency than the barium sulphate suspensions used for gastro-intestina examinations.


This paper reports experimental study of 17 high strength aluminium alloy specimens of type of 6082-T6 under axially compressed load including I-section column, rectangular hollow section. The general-purpose non-linear finite element analysis software ABAQUS is adopted to simulate the mechanical performance and overall buckling of aluminium alloy columns. The feasibility of finite element method has been verified through the comparison between the simulation results and the test finding. Finally, based on the experimental data and numerical calculation results, a useful column curve formulation to calculate the coefficient of stability of 6082-T6 aluminium alloy columns loaded by axial compressive load is derived. Comparison between column curves from proposed formulation and different code and test results has been presented, from which the validation of the proposed formulation has been verified.


At least since the late eighteenth century, constitutions have been understood as emanations of the will of "the People," as the ultimate expression of an inherent popular sovereignty. In the form of theories of constituent power, accounts of constitutional foundations blended notional or conceptual "descriptions" of the People, which anchored the political legitimacy of constitutional orders in the idea of hypothetical consent, with empirical claims that the nation's actual people were represented in constitution-making processes through elected delegates and thereby were the authors of and gave consent to its fundamental law. As part of the third wave of democratization, there was an important shift in what popular participation consisted of—from indirect participation by elected representatives to direct, popular participation in the constitution-making process. As a matter of constitutional process, this led to the growing practice, and expectation, that major constitutional changes should be ratified through referenda.


Resource management has to take account of the possibility of tipping points and regime shifts in ecological systems that provide the resources. This article focuses on the typical model of regime shifts in the ecological literature and analyzes optimal management and common-property issues when trade-offs occur between the loss of ecosystem services and the benefits of the activities that may lead to a regime shift. Regime shifts are uncertain. This article also analyzes optimal management in the case of a potential future regime shift. Research on regime shifts is rapidly developing, and the issue is studied from many different angles. This article is restricted to some standard economic analyses, but in the presence of regime shifts. It focuses on examples like lakes, fisheries, and climate change but provides a framework of analysis that can be used for many environmental issues facing us today.


Recent debris modelling results have indicated that the debris density at some Low Earth Orbit (LEO) altitudes has reached a critical level such that the LEO debris population will continue to grow even in the absence of new launches. These simulations have provided a basis for recent investigations of debris environment remediation and Active Debris Removal (ADR). This ongoing work has established the benefits of ADR as a method of stabilising the future LEO debris environment but no consideration has yet been given to the means by which debris would be removed. Hence, with a new study of debris removal using the University of Southampton's DAMAGE model, we show the consequences on the LEO debris environment of additional launch activity to attach and deploy devices to remove existing large debris from orbit. The projection period covered the years 2009 to 2109 and the simulations included removal rates of two and five debris objects per year, starting in the year 2020, with debris selected for removal based on criteria including mass and collision probability. Only launches of debris removal systems plus associated upper stages were modelled and we assumed that these new launches comply with current debris mitigation guidelines. The results confirm the effectiveness of ADR and, within the constraints of this initial study, suggest that launch activities associated with ADR may have only a small impact on the efficacy of future remediation efforts.


Natural CO2 springs and groundwater rich in free gas in Slovenia occur mainly in the Slovenske gorice hills. Within the frame of fieldwork performed in 2014–2015 we investigated 11 springs: Ihovska slatina, Ivanjševska slatina, Lokavska slatina, Polička slatina, Radvenska slatina, Mofette Rihtarovci, mofettes Stavešinske Slepice, and Strmec, Ujterska slatina, Verjanska slatina and Žekš. The diameter of five uncaptured springs can exceed 4 m, with depression depths of 2 m, but most are smaller. We elaborated bathymetric 3D models of these spring areas, marked degassing locations in a plan view, and evaluated the gas flux according to a subjective, visual five-level scale. We also measured physicochemical parameters of the water. The observed phenomena were classified among mofettes and mineral waters. Two are wet mofettes (Polička slatina and Slepice) and three dry mofettes (Rihtarovci, Strmec, mofette at Lokavska slatina). These constantly emit cold CO2, hold acid surface or meteoric water, and bare soil or changed vegetation may also be present. Mineral water consisting of more than 1 g/l of total dissolved solids surfaces at Ihovska, Ivanjševska and Radvenska slatina, and Žekš. It is rich in free CO2, having a flux intensity of 2–4. Verjanska slatina and Ujterska slatina are neither mofettes nor mineral waters. The first, like most others, may be a slatina, having more than 250 mg/l of free CO2 (CO2)g. We found no connection between the depth of the springs and the intensity of gas emissions. GEOLOGIJA 59/2, 155-177, Ljubljana 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2016.009 © Author(s) 2016. CC Atribution 4.0 License 156 Laura GABOR & Nina RMAN


Supervoltage radiotherapy was used in 21 orbits of 19 patients with idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumor. Seventeen orbits (15 patients) were initially treated with systemic corticosteroids, but recurrence of orbital inflammation during dosage tapering was the most frequent indication for radiotherapy. Fifteen orbits (14 patients) responded favorably, as judged by reduced proptosis, decreased lid edema and conjunctival injection, improved ocular motility, and increased visual acuity. Six orbits (five patients) did not improve with radiotherapy. Patients who were successfully treated with radiotherapy have been free of recurrence for a mean follow-up period of 25.05 months; these patients have not required further corticosteroid treatment or additional radiotherapy. Low-dose (1,000 to 2,000 rad) supervoltage radiotherapy seems to have a definite role in the management of idiopathic orbital pseudotumor in the following instances: (1) when corticosteroids fail or systemic complications are unacceptable (2) when signs and symptoms recur during decreasing corticosteroid dosage, and (3) when systemic corticosteroids are medically contraindicated.


Trichobezoar is a concretion of ingested hair that forms at a certain level in the digestive tract with concomitant existence of a psychosomatic disorder in the respective patient. The risk of complications requires correct, rapid diagnosis and surgical intervention for extraction. The authors present a case of gastric trichobezoar in a teens with trichotillomania.


Comprehensive forest cover mapping is essential for making policy and management decisions. However, creating a forest cover map from raw remote sensing data is a barrier for many users. Here, we investigated the effects of different tree cover thresholds on the accuracy of forest cover maps derived from the Global Forest Change Dataset (GFCD) across different ecological zones in a country-scale evaluation of Myanmar. To understand the effect of different thresholds on map accuracy, nine forest cover maps having thresholds ranging from 10% to 90% were created from the GFCD. The accuracy of the forest cover maps within each ecological zone and at the national scale was assessed. The overall accuracies of ecological zones other than tropical rainforest were highest when the threshold for tree cover was less than 50%. The appropriate threshold for tropical rainforests was 80%. Therefore, different optimal tree cover thresholds were required to achieve the highest overall accuracy depending on ecological zones. However, in the unique case of Myanmar, we were able to determine the threshold across the whole country. We concluded that the threshold for tree cover for creating a forest cover map should be determined according to the areal ratio of ecological zones determined from large-scale monitoring. Our results are applicable to tropical regions having similar ecological zones.


The high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) image showed that selfassembled ZnSe small quantum dots (QDs) and large nanodots with a pyramid shape were formed in the Cl-doped ZnSe epilayers grown on GaAs (100) substrates. The formation of the ZnSe QDs was attributed to three-dimensional growth controlled by distribution of the impurities in the Cldoped ZnSe epilayrs. Cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements at room temperature revealed the emission peak at 3.1 eV corresponding to the blue shift approximately 400 meV from the near band edge emission of 2.7 eV in the bulk ZnSe. The blue shifted CL peak indicates the quantum confinement effect resulting from the formation of the ZnSe QDs in the Cl-doped ZnSe thin film. While the peak position of the donor-acceptor pair emission shifted to higher energies with decreasing temperature, the band-edge emission peak for the QDs did not significantly change.


Abstract The authors show how a capacitive device measuring moisture can be used aboard instrumented atmospheric aircraft as an alternate sensor for turbulence measurement. Using a calibrated Lyman-α sensor as a reference, the time response of the capacitive device can be improved in such a way that turbulent latent heat flux and moisture variance can be calculated with a good level of accuracy. This improvement is done by correction of the amplitude as well of the phase of the signal. These corrections are determined from in-flight measurements therefore, they take into account the time response of the sensor itself, as well as its airborne installation.


ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of a dichotomous choice contingent valuation (CV) study of reduced flood risks in Bangladesh. Sensitivity of willingness to pay (WTP) to varying risk exposure levels is tested in a 'natural experiment', targeting floodplain residents facing regular annual flooding and a disaster flood once every five to ten years. Accounting for price, income and education levels, both subjective risk aversion and objective baseline risk exposure affect stated WTP for a common level of flood protection. We find a number of problems with the CV application in this specific developing country context. Half of the respondents are unable to pay in financial terms, but are willing to contribute in kind. The combined use of a monetary and non-monetary measure of WTP would have lowered the number of zero bids considerably. A test-retest carried out six months after the original survey shows that the stated WTP values are reliable.


Background and Objective: Postraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is very common. Various investigations prove the biological basis of PTSD. However, the hemispheric asymmetry has not been studied in these patients. The aim of this study was to find out the probability of hemispheric asymmetry in PTSD patient through EEG. Materials & Methods: This is a descriptive–comparative study in which 15 veterans with PTSD from among neurological clinic clients were selected and studied. The artifact free EEG epoch was analyzed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT) and Power values of particular frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta) were observed on the Frontal, Central and Occipital Regions. The results were analyzed for Descriptive Statistics and Paired Sample T-Test was performed. Results: The results of investigation indicated, that PTSD patients have hemispheric asymmetry in delta activity of Frontal, Central and Occipital regions as well as Alpha and Beta asymmetry in occipital region(P<0/001). Conclusion: It appears that the Alpha and Beta activity in Occipital region and Delta activity in Frontal, Central and Occipital regions are related to PTSD.