Using panel data on individual borrowing characteristics and neighborhood income, we assess the impact of relative income on indebtedness and payment delinquencies. We find that a worsening in relative income vis-à-vis similarly aged neighbors leads to higher indebtedness, primarily due to shifts in consumer debt. This relationship is not accompanied by a rise in loan delinquencies. However, we document over-indebtedness and financial distress for certain demographic subgroups that are presumably more responsive to peer influences (e.g., younger individuals). Our analysis is carefully structured to account for selection effects and omitted variables.


Microcell-mediated transfer of a single human chromosome from repair-proficient human cells to genetic complementation group F cells from the hereditary disease xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) results in partial complementation of repair-defective phenotypes. The complementing chromosome was identified by cytogenetic and molecular analysis as human chromosome 15. Transfer of this chromosome to XP-F cells restores approximately 20% of the resistance of wild-type cells to killing by UV radiation or by the UV-mimetic chemical 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), as well as partial repair synthesis of DNA measured as unscheduled DNA synthesis. Additionally, complemented XP-F cells have an enhanced capacity for reactivation of the plasmid-borne E. coli cat gene following its inactivation by UV radiation. Phenotypic complementation of XP cells by chromosome 15 is specific to genetic complementation group F; no effect on the UV sensitivity of XP-A, XP-C, or XP-D cells was detected. The observation that phenotypic complementation is partial is open to several interpretations and does not allow the definitive conclusion that the XP-F locus is carried on chromosome 15.


One version of the multichannel theory for electron-target scattering basedon the Schwingervariational principle, the SMC method, requires the introduction of a projection parameter (K. Takatsukaand V. McKoy, Phys. Rev., A24, 2473 (1981)). The role of the projection parameter a is investigated and it is shown that the principalvalue operator in the SMC equation is Hermitian regardless of the value of a as long as it is real and nonzero. In a basis that is properly orthonormalizable, the matrix representation of this operator is also Hermitian. The use of such basis is consistent with the Schwinger variational principle because the Lippmann-Schwinger equation automatically builds in the correct boundary conditions. Otherwise, an auxiliary condition needs to be introduced, and Takatsuka and McKoy's original value of a is one of the three possible ways to achieve ttermiticity. In all cases but one, a can be uncoupled from the Hermiticity condition and becomes a free parameter. An equation for a based on the variational stability of the scattering amplitude is derived; its solution has an interesting property that the scattering amplitude from a converged SMC calculation is independent of the choice of a even though the SMC operator itself is a-dependent. This property provides a sensitive test of the convergence of the calculation. For a static-exchange calculation, the convergence requirement only depends on the completeness of the one-electron basis, but for a general multichannel case, the a-invariance in the scattering amplitude requires both the one-electron basis and the N+l-electron basis to be complete. The role of a in the SMC equation and the convergence property are illustrated using two examples: e-CO elastic scattering in the static-exchange approximation, and a two-state treatment of the e-H2 X1E + --* b_ + excitation.


The influence of substrate induced strain and its relaxation on the evolution of the multiple magnetic transitions and ensuing modifications in the degree of phase separation, the nature of the dynamical magnetic liquid, the randomly frozen glass and insulator-metal transitions have been investigated in single crystalline La1-x-yPryCaxMnO3 (x approximate to 0.42, y approximate to 0.40) in t similar to 20-140 nm thick films deposited On LaAlO3 (001) substrates. The ferromagnetic (FM) transition temperature (T-C) first decreases as the film thickness is increased from t similar to 20 nm to t similar to 60 nm and then increases with increasing film thickness. In contrast the charge ordering (CO), antiferromagnetic (AFM) and glass transition temperatures shift towards higher values with increasing film thickness. The field cooled cooling (FCC) and field cooled warming (FCW) magnetization (M-T) of films having t >= 60 nm shows pronounced hysteresis and Delta T-C=T-C(FCW) T-C(FCC) decreases concomitantly from 46 K to 35 K as the thickness increases from similar to 60 to similar to 140 nm. The thinnest film shows insulator to metal transitions (IMT) only at magnetic field H > 40 kOe. Films with t >= T-C show sharp hysteretic IMT, with Delta T-IM=T-IM(W)-T-IM(C) decreasing from similar to 70 K to similar to 50 K as the thickness increases from similar to 60 nm to similar to 140 nm. Such strong hysteresis is a characteristic of first order phase transition and also a signature of magnetic liquid like phase created by the magnetic frustration created by the delicate balance between FM and AFM/CO phases. The H induced AFM/CO to FM transition reduces Delta T-IM and at higher fields the phase transition appears akin to the second order. The observed difference in the magnetic and transport properties have been explained in terms of the substrate induced strain at lower film thickness and its relaxation at higher thickness.


Recent success of the Spanish economy is frequently attributed to the benefits from economic integration into the European Community, which Spain joined in 1986. By contrast, this paper takes the view that, to a large extent, the origins of success may be traced back to earlier years and that the benefits from EC membership are best seen as reinforcing favorable trends already in effect. Exploring Spain's economic development from a longer-run perspective, with emphasis on interaction of events at home and abroad, the paper assesses the financial and structural policy record for its contributions to success. Most significant are the "orthodox" stabilization and reform program under the auspices of the Fund in 1959, the "heterodox" adjustment program pursued on transition to democracy in 1977 and the differences in the response of policy to the oil crises of the early and late 1970s. On the whole, the approach to financial stabilization was radical, and that to structural reform gradual. The paper concludes that by mid-1980 Spain had largely accomplished the transition to a modern economy and prospects were favorable for sustainable expansion over the medium term. The mutually reinforcing effects of those circumstances and the subsequent process of integration into the EC spurred the further progress of Spain.


Abstract The phylogenetic relationship between Alpova, Chroogomphus, Gomphidius, Rhizopogon, Suillus, and Truncocolumella and their placement in the Boletales was tested through maximum parsimony analyses of large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. Taxon sampling included representatives of the genera Alpova, Boletellus, Boletus, Chroogomphus, Gomphidius, Melanogaster, Paragyrodon, Phylloporus, Rhizopogon, Suillus, Truncocolumella, Tylopilus, and Xerocomus, as well as species from the Agaricales, Russulales, and Polyporales. The order Boletales was strongly supported as monophyletic. Furthermore, within this order, two major groups emerged: the boletoid radiation and a Melanogastraceae/Paragyrodon sphaerosporus paraphyletic assemblage, and the suilloid radiation. The boletoid radiation and a Melanogastraceae/Paragyrodon sphaerosporus assemblage was strongly supported. Although the boletoid radiation was not strongly supported by bootstrap analysis, the clade did not collapse in the strict consensus topology. This clade comprised species from the genera Boletellus, Boletus, Phylloporus, Tylopilus, and Xerocomus. The Boletaceae sensu Singer was not monophyletic. Although species relationships within the boletoid radiation were not well resolved, the genus Boletus did not appear to be monophyletic. Alpova diplophloeus, A. trappei, Melanogaster tuberiformis, and Paragyrodon sphaerosporus formed a paraphyletic assemblage basal to the boletoid radiation clade. The suilloid clade was strongly supported and included Alpova olivaceotinctus, Chroogomphus, Gomphidius, Rhizopogon, Suillus and Truncocolumella citrina. Species in the genus Alpova therefore were grouped both within and outside the suilloid radiation. Within the suilloid radiation, Suillus was inferred to be more closely related to Truncocolumella citrina and the Gomphidiaceae than to Rhizopogon, suggesting a more distant relationship between Suillus and Rhizopogon than previously hypothesized. Rhizopogon was not supported as monophyletic, although its monophyly could not be rejected by the data. Alpova olivaceotinctus grouped within the genus Rhizopogon, consistent with previous classifications, and is returned to that genus.


J-DSP is a Java-based object-oriented programming environment developed from the ground up for education and research by Arizona State University. This paper builds upon our previous work 1 by developing several new and advanced functions that support a more detailed treatment of power amplifier linearization techniques. The tutorials developed are intended to familiarize students with the mixed-signal application of digital signal processing (DSP) in coordination with a radio transmitter's power amplifier. Specifically, the new functions illustrate the effects of design tradeoffs between DSP and circuits while masking the complexity of the implementations for senior undergraduate students. This is accomplished by plotting the internal state of the predistorter and producing two metrics, adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) and error vector magnitude (EVM), that quantify absolute performance for a given simulation. Two different techniques for amplifier linearization are presented, and a tutorial has been developed for each technique. The first technique is the gain-based predistorter. The previous tutorials 1 demonstrated the gain compression present in power amplifiers, and the resulting harmonics introduced in the output spectrum. It also demonstrated how a well designed gain-based look-up-table (LUT) can be configured to fix the distortion, and students could run different configurations and see the improvement. In this iteration of the tutorials, the gain-based LUT has been expanded to show the internal gains of the predistorter bins, the nominal power amplifier gain within a given bin, the histogram of points lying within a bin for given modulation scheme, and the net linearized system gain within each given bin. As before, spectra for both linearized and nominal cases are shown. These new features allow demonstration of internal effects and quantify the performance differences created by design choices in the look-up-table. The second technique, completely new to our research, is the artificial neural network based predistortion. In this technique, a neural network is trained to identify the inverse function of the power amplifier with desired gain removed. As output, the simulations yield ACPR, EVM, spectrum with and without predistortion, and the internal gains of the predistorter, linearized power amplifier system, and the nominal power amplifier.


A general formalism to include experimental reaction cross sections into calculations of stellar rates is presented. It also allows us to assess the maximally possible reduction of uncertainties in the stellar rates by experiments. As an example for the application of the procedure, stellar neutron capture reactivities from KADoNiS v0.3 are revised and the remaining uncertainties shown. Many of the uncertainties in the stellar rates are larger than those obtained experimentally. This has important consequences for s-process models and the interpretation of meteoritic data because it allows the rates of some reactions to vary within a larger range than previously assumed.


Human activities modify the disturbance regimes of tropical forests. Since tropical forests host high biological diversity, understanding the role of biodiversity in ecosystem recovery pathways and the underlying ecological mechanisms is crucial to predict the fate of tropical ecosystems. Studies relying on regularly censused forest plots, rarely include disturbed forests, are not long enough to assess long‐term forest dynamics and often lack repeatability. We used an individual‐based model of tropical forest growth to assess the effect of species and functional diversity on long‐term ecosystem recovery from disturbance. We manipulated the number of species and functional assemblages across a large number of simulations and simulated different levels of disturbance. To investigate the ecological mechanisms that underlie the effect of biodiversity on forest functioning along recovery pathways, we partitioned the net effect of biodiversity on ecosystem properties into complementarity and selection effects over time. We found that functional diversity improved tropical forest resilience after a disturbance. The complementarity effect dominated soon after the disturbance but was progressively surpassed by a selection effect as more competitive species dominated the forest community. This pattern increased with the intensity of the disturbance. Synthesis. We found that the mechanisms through which biodiversity influences forest functioning depend on the ecosystem state, shifting from a dominant complementarity effect in recently disturbed systems to a selection effect in systems disturbed a long time ago. Our results thus suggest that the time since the last disturbance is a key to understanding biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships in tropical forests and can help reconcile previous contrasting results obtained with snapshots of ecosystem state in empirical studies.


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration and loss of neuronal cells in the brain. β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) is produced by proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and its accumulation in the senile plaque is the major hallmark of AD pathogenesis [1, 2, 3]. Various experimental evidence support that Aβ plaque can induce neurotoxic effect on neuronal cells [4]. In the course of screening of anti-dementia agents from medicinal plants, the ethanolic extract of Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance showed neuroprotective effect against Aβ25–35-induced cytotoxicity in cultured B103 cells. The extract was partitioned with dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water, successively. The repeated chromatographic separation afforded an active compound, and its chemical structure was elucidated as syringin by 1H- and 13C-NMR and LC-MS. Its effects on apoptotic cell death were determined by MTT, H2DCF-DA and caspase-3 activity assay. As results, syringin significantly increased B103 cell viability up to 79.16% at 20µM in the presence of 12.5µM of Aβ25–35, and it remarkably decreased Aβ25–35-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation up to 92.87% at the same concentration. In addition, the activity of caspase-3, an enzymatic major marker of apoptosis, was decreased up to 39.75% at 25µM. These results indicate that syringin and ethanolic extracts from Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance could be a promising agent for anti-dementia. References: 1. Kayed, R. et al. (2003) Science 300: 486–489. 2. Selkoe, D. J. (1994) Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 10: 373–403. 3. Nunan, J., Small, D. H. (2000) FEBS Lett. 483: 6–10. 4. Estus, S. et al. (1997)J. Neurosci. 17: 7736–7745.


The aim of this work is to contribute to the development of accelerated iterative methods for the solution of electromagnetic scattering and wave propagation problems. In spite of recent advances in computer science, there are great demands for efficient and accurate techniques for the analysis of electromagnetic problems. This is due to the increase of the electrical size of electromagnetic problems and a large amount of design and analytical work dependent on simulation tools. This dissertation concentrates on the use of iterative techniques, which are expedited by appropriate acceleration methods, to accurately solve electromagnetic problems. There are four main contributions attributed to this dissertation.
The first two contributions focus on the development of stationary iterative methods while the other two focus on the use of Krylov iterative methods.
The contributions are summarised as follows:
• The modified multilevel fast multipole method is proposed to accelerate the performance of stationary iterative solvers. The proposed method is combined with the buffered block forward backward method and the overlapping domain decomposition method for the solution of perfectly conducting three dimensional scattering problems. The proposed method is more efficient than the standard multilevel fast multipole method when applied to stationary iterative solvers.
• The modified improvement step is proposed to improve the convergence rate of stationary iterative solvers. The proposed method is applied for the solution of random rough surface scattering problems. Simulation results suggest that the proposed algorithm requires significantly fewer iterations to achieve a desired accuracy as compared to the conventional improvement step.
• The comparison between the volume integral equation and the surface integral equation is presented for the solution of two dimensional indoor wave propagation problems. The linear systems resulting from the discretisation of the integral equations are solved using Krylov iterative solvers. Both approaches are expedited by appropriate acceleration techniques, the fast Fourier transform for the volumetric approach and the fast far field approximation for the surface approach. The volumetric approach demonstrates a better convergence rate than the surface approach.
• A novel algorithm is proposed to compute wideband results of three dimensional forward scattering problems. The proposed algorithm is a combination of Krylov iterative solvers, the fast Fourier transform and the asymptotic waveform evaluation technique. The proposed method is more efficient to compute the wideband results than the conventional method which separately computes the results at individual
frequency points.


This study investigated into the challenges facing the provision of quality education in Musoma district secondary schools. The research objectives were. To examine the challenges hindering provision of quality education, to examine the extent to which the challenges hinder provision of quality education and to suggest intervention measures to challenges hindering provision of quality education in Musoma District secondary schools. The study employed qualitative research approaches in collection and analysis of data. A case study design was used whereby questionnaire, interview, observation and documentary review were used in data collection. The findings of the study revealed that inadequacy of teaching and learning materials, poor teacher pay, lack of housing to teachers, and poor working environment are among of the challenges facing provision of quality education. Moreover, the findings affirmed that English as been also the challenge hindering both teachers and students to comprehend and transmit the content and hence produce quality education. Finally, the findings of this study affirmed that teacher's qualification, workloads and working environment contributed to provision of quality education in Musoma district. The findings also revealed that better teacher pay, supply of adequate and qualified teachers, supply of adequate teaching and learning materials, provision of subsidies to secondary schools, construction of library, laboratories, dormitories and teachers houses were among of the intervention measures to redress challenges hindering provision of quality education in secondary schools. The study recommends that the government should increase the capitation grants to secondary schools so as to enable them to purchase teaching and learning materials, building teachers' houses, classrooms, and dormitories


The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the stability ofsale, asset structure, growth rate on capital structure of Real Estate and Property companieslisted in Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2007-2009. This research used quantitative research,thatis a research that uses numbers, ranging from data collection, interpretation of data, as well asthe appearance of the results. In this research, the data used was secondary data, the data inthe form of financial statements of Real Estate and Property companies listed in IndonesiaStock Exchange in 2007-2009. The method for sample selection used non probability samplingmethod for purposive sampling with consideration of which the samples were not randomlyselected and the information obtained by certain considerations. The population was 50companies and the samples were 27 companies. Based on the processed data, it generated n =27 x 3 = 81, but when there was outlier, the samples became 74 companies. The samplingtechniques for data analysis was multiple linear regression.The result of stability of sale was 1.191, assets structure was -1.649, growth rate was -1.204and t table was 1.9949. if t value < t table then Ho was received and Ha was rejected. So all thevariables simultaneously did not have a positive influence on capital structure. The result of Fvalue was 1.938 and F table was 2.50 with n = 74. Coefficient of determination value was 0.126or 12.6%. This means that 12.6% variation of the variable of capital structure can be explainedby three variables. While the rest (100% - 12.6% = 87.4%) is explained by other variablesbesides variable of stability of sale, asset structure and growth rates. Keywords : Stability of sale, Esset Structure, Growth Rate, Capital Structure


This study was performed to investigate the effect of prolonged (6-hour) infusions of salmon calcitonin on basal gastric acid secretion and serum gastrin and calcium levels in 9 normal volunteers. Three tests, during which gastric acid secretion was measured continuously for 8 hours, were performed on each subject. After 1 hour, calcitonin 2,5 or 5,0 micrograms/h or a saline placebo (in random order) was infused intravenously for 6 hours. Calcitonin significantly inhibited basal gastric acid secretion, the effect reaching statistical significance (P less than 0,05) after 90 minutes with the larger dose and after 150 minutes with the smaller dose. Eight of the 9 tests using the larger dose and 6 of the 9 using the smaller dose rendered the subjects achlorhydric. The changes in acid secretion occurred independently of a slight drop in serum calcium levels. No changes in blood gastrin levels occurred. Calcitonin is capable of completely abolishing gastric acid secretion when infused over a long period.


The effectiveness of measures introduced to minimise the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) depends on compliance from all members of society. The Irish response to COVID-19 has been framed as a collective effort, fostering national solidarity. However, dominant representations of the national community often unreflexively reaffirm the prototypicality of majority group members, implicitly marginalizing minority group members. This may have implications for adherence behaviours. We propose that majority/minority membership of the national community predicts adherence to COVID-19 health advice via prototypicality and national solidarity. In Study 1, we collected data online from Irish residents (N = 1,185) during the first wave of restrictions in Ireland's response. In Study 2, we collected data from Irish residents (N = 537) during the second wave of restrictions, with more targeted sampling of minority groups. Based on these two studies, there is no difference between minority and majority group members' adherence behaviours. However, mediation analysis showed that greater adherence to COVID-19 health advice is shown when group members perceive themselves to be prototypical of the Irish national community, and thereby show greater national solidarity. In Study 3, we manipulated an appeal to adhere to restrictions (N = 689) and show that an inclusive solidarity appeal increased reported intentions to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions compared to an exclusive solidarity appeal among minority group members. These findings suggest that appeals to national solidarity in response to COVID-19 will be most successful when they reference the diversity of the nation.


The study was conducted to perform phytochemical screening, antimicrobial assay and determine the coagulating effects of wellawel (Chromolaena odorata) leaves. This study made use of the experimental research design in an actual laboratory set-up. There were four phases in the experimental study. Phase 1 included the preparation of the plant sample and extraction using distilled water and ethyl alcohol, Phase 2 is the phytochemical screening to determine he presence of alkaloids, quaternary bases or amine oxides, saponins, free fatty acids, cardiac glycosides, leucoanthocyanins, flavonoids, tannins, fats and oils and anthraquinones in the leaf extract, Phase 3 is the antimicrobial assay to determine the zones of growth inhibition produced by the wellawel leaf extract to test organisms and Phase 4 is the determination of the coagulating effects of the wellawel leaf against Swiss mice. Findings showed that wellawel (Chromolaena odorata) leaf extract contains alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, luecoanthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins. Wellawel leaf extract has weak antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and no anti-fungal activity on Candida albicans. The crude and aqueous extracts have the ability to shorten the coagulation time of blood on wounds inflicted on Swiss mice. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were drawn: a follow up study should be conducted to quantify, isolate and identify the type of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, leucoanthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins present in the leaves of wellawel and other pharmacologic testing should be done using the wellawel leaves like tests for its analgesic property, antispasmodic, antihypertensive and antihelminthic properties.


This is the second in a series of articles about the science of quality improvement. Many quality improvement initiatives are aimed at improving the process of care and ensuring that high-quality care is delivered reliably. In this article, we explain why it is important to understand healthcare processes in order to improve them and how this can be achieved. We explain the use of logic models to determine what information to collect (from surveys, interviews, direct observations and other sources) and how to analyse this information (using techniques such as process maps, critical-to-quality trees, driver diagrams and cause-and-effect diagrams) to design more reliable and higher quality healthcare processes.


Al-Qur'an contains many terms that contain sexual content both directly (mubasyarah) and symbolic (kinayah), including furuj (genitals), semen (sperm), nuthfah (mixing of male and female sperm), arham (womb), al-mass (contact, conjugal relationship), al-lams (contact, conjugal relationship), preacher (contact, conjugal relationship), rafats (words and actions that lead to bodily relationships) , bigha '(prostitution), adultery, fahisyah (vile deeds), abkar (virgin), murawadah (seducing), and so forth. In general the mention of the above terms in the Qur'an covers four contexts; first, the context of the explanation of halal and haram law. Second, the context of scientific knowledge in verses about the creation of humans. Third, the historical context in the stories in the Qur'an, and fourth, the context of the language in which the Qur'an outlines issues of sexuality in polite, symbolic language. Talks about sexuality and sex education are by no means the invitation to pornography, or the spread of atrocities among humans, or encourage people to commit adultery or do damage. One of the themes of sex education in the Qur'an is the prohibition of adultery. This theme is becoming increasingly interesting for several reasons. First, the prohibition of adultery is narrated by the Qur'an with the expression "Don't approach the adultery". Secondly, the increasingly rampant adultery along with facilitation arising from the development of communication and information technology. Third, some people feel taboo to speak and provide sex education to their families, even though this theme has been alluded to by the Qur'an and hadith. The prohibition of adultery in the Qur'an which is stated by Allah with the phrase "Do not approach the adultery" shows that adultery has a very large attraction. Therefore, all factors that have the potential to bring someone closer to adultery must be shunned in order to avoid the vile deeds. At least there are three cases that can lead someone to adultery, namely khalwat, seeing pornographic and pornographic shows, and free lifestyles.


BACKGROUND
It is well established that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), applied to the skin, has healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

AIM
To evaluate the effectiveness of EVOO in the prevention of nipple cracking in lactating women.

METHODS
Experimental, prospective, randomized study of 300 lactating women, admitted to the postpartum unit of the city's general hospital (Cienfuegos, Cuba). The study was carried out in 2012. Eligible patients were randomized into two groups of 150 women. In Group 1, EVOO was applied on the nipple after feeding, and in Group 2, drops of breast milk were applied to the nipple after feeding. Clinical evaluations were made during the first week of treatment and after the first month. All women who initiated breastfeeding were considered eligible to be included in this study; breastfeeding was characterized as the moment of mother-child interaction with suction on the nipple. Efficacy was evaluated quantitatively, as the absence of cracks in the nipple during the first 2 weeks of lactation using as the proportion of women with or without nipple cracks, and if present, whether they were moderate or slight.

RESULTS
The quantitative efficacy was 97.3% and no adverse effects occurred in mothers and newborns during the administration of EVOO.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
EVOO helps prevent nipple cracking in lactating women. It has been shown to have protective effects when breastfeeding presents technical difficulties. This conclusion is borne out by the frequency distribution results obtained, which reflect a significantly higher proportion of nipple cracking in the population that was not treated with EVOO.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION
Use EVOO to prevent nipple cracking during breastfeeding by administering 3 drops on each nipple after each feeding. Decreased nipple cracking will reduce pain and enhance breastfeedinging by administering 3 drops on each nipple after each feeding, improving the health of mothers and infants.


Technology use and adaptation are the center of attention in research on virtual teams. Through empirical observations from six interpretative cases of virtual teams, we suggest conceptualizing the relationship between technology-use practices and collaborative practices as a technology-alignment process. We define technology alignment based upon four key perspectives on technology-use practices: continuous iterative process, reflection-on-action activities, malleability and reconfigurability, and transformation. Moreover, we show how these four key perspectives influence the design, the outcome, the task processes, and the socioemotional processes of the particular virtual team.


The practice of life cycle assessment has been well documented
as a tool for comparing products and processes or comparing various
components within a life cycle. This paper addresses the question of how
changes can be made once an assessment has been completed, such as
identifying the improvements that can be made to address environmental
problems and to decrease impacts on human health and the environment. Green
chemistry, a fairly recent approach that addresses environmental concerns
at a fundamental level, has already demonstrated examples of what we call
'life cycle innovation', that is, improvements at all stages of
the product or process life cycle. This paper explores various applications
of green chemistry methodologies to all stages of a product or process life
cycle.


The expected improvement (EI) algorithm is a popular strategy for information collection in optimization under uncertainty. The algorithm is widely known to be too greedy, but nevertheless enjoys wide use due to its simplicity and ability to handle uncertainty and noise in a coherent decision theoretic framework. To provide rigorous insight into EI, we study its properties in a simple setting of Bayesian optimization where the domain consists of a finite grid of points. This is the so-called best-arm identification problem, where the goal is to allocate measurement effort wisely to confidently identify the best arm using a small number of measurements. In this framework, one can show formally that EI is far from optimal. To overcome this shortcoming, we introduce a simple modification of the expected improvement algorithm. Surprisingly, this simple change results in an algorithm that is asymptotically optimal for Gaussian best-arm identification problems, and provably outperforms standard EI by an order of magnitude.


Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the University of Alabama at Birmingham experience with routine intraoperative ultrasound (IUS)–guided tandem placement for cervical cancer. Methods Between 1999 and 2008, 243 cervical cancer patients underwent IUS-guided tandem placement. One hundred thirty-nine patients received low-dose-rate brachytherapy, and 104 received high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Three hundred fifty-six IUS-guided procedures were performed. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate complications requiring reinsertion of tandem placement in the context of IUS. Results All 243 cervical cancer patients completed intracavitary brachytherapy. Five (1.4%) of 356 IUS-guided applicator placements resulted in uterine perforation. All of these patients underwent successful tandem insertion on the second attempt, and no significant clinical sequelae occurred. Intraoperative ultrasound enabled direct uterine visualization and facilitated real-time feedback for selection of a suitable tandem length and curvature; no suboptimal placements requiring return to the operating room occurred (excluding perforation). Conclusions In this large series, IUS guidance substantially increased the rate of successful applicator placement and diminished the rate of uterine perforation relative to historical controls. We strongly recommend the use of IUS guidance during operative intrauterine tandem placement for cervical cancer.


A Medium Energy Beam Transport line 1 (MEBT1) has been designed for Injector Scheme II of the China ADS project. To match the beam from RFQ to Superconducting (SC) Half Wave Resonator (HWR) sections with emittance preservation, the MEBT1 has been designed to be mechanically compact. Working at 162.5 MHz, the MEBT1 transports a 10 mA, 2.1 MeV proton beam using seven quadrupoles and two bunching cavities within 2.7 meters. Three collimators are placed between every two adjacent quadrupoles to collimate the beam halo. Design and construction of the MEBT1 are presented in this paper.


Terabit elastic optical networking (EON) is foreseen as a viable solution to extend the lifetime of a network exploiting the available bandwidth in previously deployed optical fibers. EON is based on bandwidth-variable transponders capable of supporting multiple bit rates and/ or modulation formats according to traffic requirements and node architectures that route arbitrary channel band-widths. Thus, EON increases the heterogeneity of the network, which may create the need for autonomie adaptive and/or cognitive techniques. In this context, the software-defined networking (SDN) paradigm emerges as an opportunity to enable such techniques thanks to the centralized view of the network by decoupling the control plane and the data plane. This paper surveys different activities carried out at the Optical Technologies Division in Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Telecomunicações, Brazil. We review an optical transport SDN controller for virtual optical networks that supports two adaptive algorithms. First, the autonomie flexible transponder reconfigures the transmission modulation format according to a threshold level. Second, the adaptive global spectrum equalization reconfigures the wavelengths' attenuation profiles applied at the optical nodes to improve the signals' optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) at reception. Finally, we report experimental results of an in-band OSNR monitor for advanced modulation formats.


Abstract : The project's goal is to advance ocean data assimilation into a quasi-operational tool for studying ocean circulation. Observing the complete state of the ocean is difficult owing to its turbulent nature and the sparse and limited measurements. This project will establish a routine description of the global ocean by optimally combining available observations using a general circulation model, to monitor, to assess, and to understand ocean circulation. The effort further aims to demonstrate the practical utility of ocean observing systems by developing applications of such syntheses.


OBJECTIVE
To determine and compare the incidence of atonic pupil following modern extracapsular cataract extraction and small-incision phacoemulsification with lens implantation in a large series of consecutive patients.

PATIENTS AND DESIGN
A retrospective review was undertaken of 1283 consecutive cases of cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (919 extracapsular and 364 small-incision phacoemulsification) performed by two surgeons between October 30, 1991, and June 30, 1993. Postoperative atonic pupil was defined as a pupil that, following cataract surgery, was 6 mm or more in diameter and minimally or nonreactive to light, accommodation, or 1% pilocarpine hydrochloride.

RESULTS
Postoperatively, 25 (1.95%) of 1283 eyes developed an atonic pupil following cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (21 [2.29%] of 919 extracapsular and four [1.10%] of 364 phacoemulsification procedures). When an atonic pupil was present following surgery, disturbing glare often resulted, despite a well-centered intraocular lens.

CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first large, consecutive study of the incidence of atonic pupil following modern cataract surgery and the first study to compare the incidence of atonic pupil following extracapsular surgery vs small-incision phacoemulsification. Although the incidence of atonic pupil may be lower following phacoemulsification, caution is advised in the implantation of ever-smaller optic lenses.


We have, on occasion, desired to drain the entire peritoneal cavity. There would result a copious drainage for the first 2 to 24 hours, which then would cease. On occasion, when further examination was possible, either at autopsy or exploratory laparotomy, peritoneal fluid was found still present and the drains were tightly encased in a fibrin sheath. Peter Salisbury demonstrated in 1957 that silicone would not excite a fibrin reaction in the peritoneal cavity. It was felt, therefore, that silicone might be the ideal material for draining the entire peritoneal cavity. An experiment was devised to compare the effectiveness of Penrose latex drains with silicone tubular drains in draining the peritoneal cavity in the presence of peritonitis. Twenty-eight operations were performed on dogs weighing from 10 to 60 lb. to evaluate the efficiency of silicone rubber as an abdominal drain. Method Median laparotomy, hysterectomy, and/or partial omentectomy were performed. Fifteen


A method was developed for determination of the migration of nonylphenol (4-nonylphenol and nonylphenol), octylphenol (4-octylphenol and octylphenol) from food contact material to food simulants by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS). The food contact material was contact with 4% acetic acid, 10% ethanol, 20% ethanol, 50% ethanol and isooctane, the nonylphenol and octylphenol in food simulants were quantitative analysis by external standard method by LC-MS. The result showed that the calibration curves of nonylphenol and octylphenol was liner in the range of 0.001-0.2 mg kg-1 with correlation coefficients not less than 0.99. The spiked recoveries of NP and OP at different spiked levels were in the range of 94%-115% and 90%-115% with relative standard deviations(RSD) of 1.7%-8.0% and 1.5%-6.9%. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.001 mg kg-1 and 0.0005 mg kg-1 for NP and OP, respectively. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.005 mg kg-1 and 0.001 mg kg-1 for NP and OP, respectively. This method was precise, highly sensitive and accurate, which can be applied in qualitative and quantitation analysis of the migration of nonylphenol and octylphenol in the food simulants.


—Standard Bayesian learning is known to have sub- optimal generalization capabilities under model misspecification and in the presence of outliers. PAC-Bayes theory demonstrates that the free energy criterion minimized by Bayesian learning is a bound on the generalization error for Gibbs predictors (i.e., for single models drawn at random from the posterior) under the assumption of sampling distributions uncontaminated by outliers. This viewpoint provides a justification for the limitations of Bayesian learning when the model is misspecified, requiring ensembling, and when data is affected by outliers. In recent work, PAC-Bayes bounds – referred to as PAC m – were derived to introduce free energy metrics that account for the performance of ensemble predictors, obtaining enhanced performance under misspecification. This work presents a novel robust free energy criterion that combines the generalized logarithm score function with PAC m ensemble bounds. The proposed free energy training criterion produces predictive distributions that are able to concurrently counteract the detrimental effects of model misspecification and outliers


Direct sampling of human skeletal muscle using the needle biopsy technique can facilitate insight into the biochemical and histological responses resulting from changes in exercise or feeding. However, the muscle biopsy procedure is invasive, and analyses are often expensive, which places pragmatic restraints on sample sizes. The unilateral exercise model can serve to increase statistical power and reduce the time and cost of a study. With this approach, 2 limbs of a participant are randomized to 1 of 2 treatments that can be applied almost concurrently or sequentially depending on the nature of the intervention. Similar to a typical repeated measures design, comparisons are made within participants, which increases statistical power by reducing the amount of between-person variability. A washout period is often unnecessary, reducing the time needed to complete the experiment and the influence of potential confounding variables such as habitual diet, activity, and sleep. Variations of the unilateral exercise model have been employed to investigate the influence of exercise, diet, and the interaction between the 2, on a wide range of variables including mitochondrial content, capillary density, and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Like any model, unilateral exercise has some limitations: it cannot be used to study variables that potentially transfer across limbs, and it is generally limited to exercises that can be performed in pairs of treatments. Where appropriate, however, the unilateral exercise model can yield robust, well-controlled investigations of skeletal muscle responses to a wide range of interventions and conditions including exercise, dietary manipulation, and disuse or immobilization.


Transformer-based pre-trained language models (PLMs) mostly suffer from excessive overhead despite their advanced capacity. For resource-constrained devices, there is an urgent need for a spatially and temporally efficient model which retains the major capacity of PLMs. However, existing statically compressed models are unaware of the diverse complexities between input instances, potentially resulting in redundancy and inadequacy for simple and complex inputs. Also, miniature models with early exiting encounter challenges in the trade-off between making predictions and serving the deeper layers. Motivated by such considerations, we propose a collaborative optimization for PLMs that integrates static model compression and dynamic inference acceleration. Specifically, the PLM is slenderized in width while the depth remains intact, complementing layer-wise early exiting to speed up inference dynamically. To address the trade-off of early exiting, we propose a joint training approach that calibrates slenderization and preserves contributive structures to each exit instead of only the final layer. Experiments are conducted on GLUE benchmark and the results verify the Pareto optimality of our approach at high compression and acceleration rate with 1/8 parameters and 1/19 FLOPs of BERT.


We propose an algorithm for identifying vertices from three dimensional (3D) meshes that are most important for a geometric shape creation. Extracting such a set of vertices from a 3D mesh is important in applications such as digital watermarking, but also as a component of optimization and triangulation. In the first step, the Ordered Statistics Vertex Extraction and Tracing Algorithm (OSVETA) estimates precisely the local curvature, and most important topological features of mesh geometry. Using the vertex geometric importance ranking, the algorithm traces and extracts a vector of vertices, ordered by decreasing index of importance.


The Gunungsewu Area in Central Java, Indonesia, has been suffering from water shortage since time immemorial, although the precipitation in the region concerned and surroundings is known to be adequate (2,000 mm/year average). This region is controlled by a karstic geology with conduits, dolines, caves, and subterraneous rivers, and very permeable rock formation, causing most of the rainwater in this area to be directly absorbed into the ground. There is a homoclinal structure dipping southward that conducts groundwater to discharge enormously into the Indian Ocean. The Gunungsewu limestone is composed of reefs and bioclastics , which based on their different physical characteristics in the field, can be classified into chalky limestone called caliche and karstic limestone. Groundwater level in the bioclastic limestone is at 5-10 m depth, whereas in the reef limestone it is able to reach 150 m depth or more. The existence of caliche and karst in Gunungsewu enable the rock formation to be divided into non-karstic aquifer with diffuse flow and karstic aquifer with conduit flow.


How can qualitative researchers collect data during social-distancing measures? Adam Jowett outlines several techniques researchers can use to collect data without face-to-face contact with participants. Bringing together a number of previous studies, he also suggests such techniques have their own methodological advantages and disadvantages and that while these techniques may appear particularly apt during the coronavirus crisis, researchers should take time to reflect on ethical issues before re-designing their studies.


This paper addresses the problem of removing from a set of data (here images) a given private information, while still allowing other utilities on the processed data. This is obtained by training concurrently a GAN-like discriminator and an autoencoder. The optimization of the resulting structure involves a novel surrogate of the misclassification probability of the information to remove. Several examples are given, demonstrating that a good level of privacy can be obtained on images at the cost of the introduction of very small artifacts.


A small basin on the Southwest (SW) margin of Melas Chasma in Valles Marineris, Mars, hosts a variety of previously identified sedimentary fans and layered strata hypothesized to have been formed by one or more paleolakes. This basin also contains light‐toned layered mounds that have distinct spectral absorption bands consistent with amorphous hydrated silica (e.g., opal). While the general morphology and mineralogy of these features and the basin itself have been previously characterized, the formation mechanism of the hydrated silica features and their temporal relationships with the proposed paleolake remain to be determined. We use Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars visible through short‐wave infrared reflectance spectra (0.35–2.65 μm) and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment digital terrain models and images to analyze the stratigraphic location and morphology of the opaline silica‐bearing features in the SW Melas basin. We find that the basin hosts fourteen high‐relief "mounds," eight low‐relief "patches," and two extended layers within the sedimentary strata that are light‐toned, fractured, and often exhibit hydrated silica‐like spectral signatures. We hypothesize that the mounds are spring deposits formed by sub‐aerial hydrothermal activity, while the patches and layers correspond to sub‐lacustrine hydrothermal activity. The varied elevations of the mounds and patches indicate at least one fluctuation of lake level in the basin during its history. The combination of contemporaneous hydrothermal and lacustrine activity to form silica‐cemented sedimentary deposits in a nutrient‐rich subaqueous environment would have been conducive to forming and preserving biosignatures in the SW Melas basin.


Teachers in multicultural contexts often have difficulty teaching their diverse students. Multicultural education theorists have advanced frameworks for reforming classroom teaching; one of the most widely used is Banks's (2013) five dimensions of multicultural education. Research supports the connection between these five dimensions and student learning, particularly integrating knowledge from students' cultural backgrounds into academic content, using pedagogy that is culturally responsive to students, and addressing stereotypes about diverse groups. Research confirms that a culturally inclusive curriculum, taught to high expectations and through trusting teacher-student relationships, improves students' academic achievement. This paper addresses how teachers can learn to use these dimensions, using a planning framework that has been shown to improve curriculum planning and teaching (Sleeter & Flores Carmona, 2017). After expanding on this framework and its research foundations, this paper will illustrate a teacher learning to use it through a case study of Angela, a second-year elementary teacher.


Alloying magnetic ions into halide double perovskites brings new opportunities for spintronics. Spintronics holds great potential for next-generation high-speed and low–power consumption information technology. Recently, lead halide perovskites (LHPs), which have gained great success in optoelectronics, also show interesting magnetic properties. However, the spin-related properties in LHPs originate from the spin-orbit coupling of Pb, limiting further development of these materials in spintronics. Here, we demonstrate a new generation of halide perovskites, by alloying magnetic elements into optoelectronic double perovskites, which provide rich chemical and structural diversities to host different magnetic elements. In our iron-alloyed double perovskite, Cs2Ag(Bi:Fe)Br6, Fe3+ replaces Bi3+ and forms FeBr6 clusters that homogenously distribute throughout the double perovskite crystals. We observe a strong temperature-dependent magnetic response at temperatures below 30 K, which is tentatively attributed to a weak ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic response from localized regions. We anticipate that this work will stimulate future efforts in exploring this simple yet efficient approach to develop new spintronic materials based on lead-free double perovskites.


While the use of Green's function techniques has a long tradition in quantum chemistry, the possibility of propagating the Kadanoff-Baym equations has remained largely unexplored. We have implemented the time-propagation for atoms and diatomic molecules, starting from a system in the groundstate. The initial stage of the calculation requires solving the Dyson equation self-consistently for the equilibrium Green's function. This Green's function contains a huge amount of information, and we have found it particularly interesting to compare the self-consistent total energies to the results of variational energy functionals of the Green's function. We also use time-propagation for calculating linear response functions, as a means for obtaining the excitation energies of the system. We have presently implemented the propagation for the second Born approximation, while the GW approximation has now been implemented for the ground state calculations.


The reliable and reproducible fabrication of nanostructures by stencil lithography (SL) faces three main challenges: the stability of the thin stencil membranes with nanoapertures, the blurring of the deposited structures, and the clogging of the nanoapertures in the stencil membranes. This study reports on these three important issues and presents corresponding solutions for the patterning of nanostructures by SL. To increase the stiffness and the stability of the membranes, we have used a hexagonal array of corrugations to globally reinforce the stencil membranes. To correct the blurring, we have used a corrective etching that improves the definition of Al nanostructures. Using this corrective etching, we have fabricated poly-Si nanowires. Finally, we have used metal wet etching to remove the material accumulated on the membranes as a remedy to the clogging.


Hypoadrenocorticism results from the deficient adrenal gland production of glucocorticoids or mineralocorticoids. Fludrocortisone have been used for the management of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs. But desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) have been administered for management of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs since several years because of the equivalent effect of fludrocortisone, and lessening of owner and patient"s effort. The therapy of DOCP was evaluated in 14 dogs diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism based on clinical signs, an electrolyte imbalance, and the results of an adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test. DOCP was administered at 25-day intervals at an initial dose of 2.2 mg/kg. The dogs were monitored for clinical signs and serum electrolyte, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine concentrations every 25 days. Fludrocortisone was an effective treatment in dogs overall; however, a change to DOCP was necessary in 7 dogs because of adverse effects or poor responses. Another 7 dogs were treated with DOCP from the first time. A total of 14 dogs were treated with DOCP. Clinical signs and electrolyte imbalance resolved completely in 12 dogs. However, mild clinical signs, such as shivering, remained in 2 dogs, and 4 dogs required regular supplementation with prednisone. Improvements in clinical signs and electrolyte imbalance were significantly better after treatment with DOCP than with fludrocortisone. The results suggest that DOCP may be a better choice than fludrocortisone for the management of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs.


Proteins are macromolecules that perform multiple functions. They are not rigid molecules, but instead proteins can change their conformation to perform critical tasks driven by binding small ligands, by assembling into large macromolecular complexes or by physiological factors. Characterization of protein conformational change and analyzing transitional pathways along protein conformational states are essentially tasks for computational biology. Here we propose probabilistic models to characterize protein conformational change. The first model disentangles protein structure into rigid bodies, whereas the second model proposes the probabilistic network model for the transitions between conformational states. Our first model is a generative process using Gaussian mixture models to represent rigid domains, which generated the input structures through spatial transformation. To estimate our model parameters, we use two approaches: using deterministic Expectation-
Maximization algorithm and stochastic Gibbs sampler. The second model is an elastic way to expand the application spectrum of our model. The model uses anharmonic springs that involve the molecular distances that are allowed to break in a stochastic fashion. The function of the spring potential is inferred from a statistical analysis of a database of large-scale conformational changes in proteins. In addition we deploy our model in a webservice, as well as we deposit a precomputed dataset of rigid domains and a selective dataset of conformational pathway between conformational states. Finally, we employ graph-based algorithms to solve the problem of a model-free base solution. This work is not limited to biological applications, but can also be applied to robotics and computer vision.
This thesis is based on the following publications and manuscripts, respectively:
• Thach Nguyen, Michael Habeck, A probabilistic model for detecting rigid domains
in protein structures, Bioinformatics, Volume 32, Issue 17, 1 September 2016, Pages
i710–i717, https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btw442
• Habeck M, Nguyen T. A probabilistic network model for structural transitions in
biomolecules.Proteins. 2018;86:634–643.https://doi.org/10.1002/prot.25490
• Linh Dang, Thach Nguyen, Michael Habeck, and StephanWaack. A graph-based
algorithm for detecting rigid domains in protein structures. Submitted
• Thach Nguyen, Christian Bohm, Michael Habeck, A computational web server for
segmenting protein structure into rigid bodies, in preparation.


The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the Common Knowledge Construction Model (CKCM) based instruction on 5th grade students' conceptual understanding of the "biodiversity" topic. The study is conducted with 74 fifth grade female students at middle school in the district of Usküdar, Istanbul. Semi-experimental method is used. In this model, two experimental groups (Experiment 1 and Experiment 2) and a control group are randomly selected among 5th grade students. In the experiment group 1, teaching is carried out with CKCM, in the experiment group 2, CKCM supported out-of-school learning environments, and in the control group, instruction is carried out in accordance with the curriculum of Turkey. Experimental group 1 includes 24 students, 2 involves 25 students, and control group consist of 25 students. The data is collected through Biodiversity Conceptual Understanding Test (BCUT). Analyzing of BCUT data that require two-tier classification, the answers of the first tier of each question are provided by tabulating the percentages of the reasons chosen for these answers (the second tier). Which alternative concepts were chosen mostly and which ones were changed analyzed as percentage. The data collected from the students' responses to the two-tier BCUT are statistically analyzed with the help of SPSS 18.0 TM . Kruskal Wallis H-Test and Wilcoxon paired pairs test are employed to analyze the data. In addition, Tamhane's T2 test is employed from post hoc tests to determine the direction of the difference of biodiversity post-test scores. While most of the alternative concepts are remediated in experiment 1 and experiment 2 groups, in the control group it revealed that alternative concepts mostly continued. Result of the study show that CKCM is more effective in remediating alternative concepts than curriculum of the ministry of education. On the other hand, CKCM is more than curriculum of the ministry of education in terms of conceptual understanding of biodiversity. Teaching CKCM supported out-of-school learning environments do not differ in BCUT from the academic achievement only with CKCM teaching. When the post-test academic achievement of the groups is taken into consideration, a significant difference is observed between the experimental groups and the control group in favor of the experimental groups.


Fish successfully exploiting rapidly changing environments must be capable of short-term adjustments to their life history strategy. Such a fish is the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Salmon developmental rates (growth, smolting and sexual maturation) vary greatly between populations and families and are known to be heritable. However expression of genetically controlled developmental rate may be modified by environmental conditions. Thorpe in 1986 published a model linking parr growth, smolting and maturation rates. The model predicts that parr during their first year may be twice faced with distinct developmental pathway options, of which there are 3 phenotypic outcomes: sexually mature parr, capable of breeding during the following winter; immature parr which shut down growth over winter and appear as the lower mode of a bimodal size distribution in late autumn and do not emigrate to sea the following spring; smolts, which continue growth into their first winter, appearing as the upper mode in a bimodal size frequency distribution in autumn and emigrate to sea the following spring. The model predicts that the decisions are made during two discrete periods and these are temporally separate and that the developmental outcome of each is dependent on the rate of acquisition of energy during these periods. To test these predictions, sibling populations of underyearling parr, hatched early using heated incubation water and hatched at ambient water temperature, were exposed to simulated natural photoperiod regimes out-of-phase with controls (up to +3 months) and elevated water temperatures (up to 5


Summary We identified an adolescent young woman with new-onset diabetes. Due to suspicious family history, she underwent genetic testing for common monogenic diabetes (MODY) genes. We discovered that she and her father carry a novel variant of uncertain significance in the HNF1A gene. She was successfully transitioned from insulin to a sulfonylurea with excellent glycemic control. Based on her family history and successful response to sulfonylurea, we propose that this is a novel pathogenic variant in HNF1A. This case highlights the utility of genetic testing for MODY, which has the potential to help affected patients control their diabetes without insulin. Learning points HNF1A mutations are a common cause of monogenic diabetes in patients presenting with early-onset diabetes and significant family history. Genetic testing in suspected patients allows for the identification of mutations causing monogenic diabetes. First-degree relatives of the affected individual should be considered for genetic testing. The use of sulfonylurea agents in patients with HNF1A-MODY can reduce dependence on insulin therapy and provide successful glycemic control.


Fabrics are needed further treatment after dyeing to restore their original mechanical properties by suitable drying/shrinkage process because of wetted and elongated fabrics cannot be used for clothes making. Heating up the dyed fabrics at suitable temperature can restore their original shapes and geometries by releasing the internal stress introduced by dyeing process. Thus, heat setting is a commonly used post-treatment process to stabilize fabric geometrical dimensions and prevent further shrinkage. Hot air jet impingement [1] and moist heat are conventional drying methods for different applications. Despite the well establishments of these drying technologies, most of the applications are for materials like clay and paper, and few on the study of textile materials. In fact that most of the developed heat setting machines used in textile industry are only designed by empirical models and lack of theoretical bases. This situation will obstruct further improvement of the drying technology. In this paper, a theoretical basis heat transfer model is developed for a precise description of a heated air flowing process for heat setting machine design. In the machine design, a better airflow circulation strategy for an efficient drying is addressed. Equations for heat and mass transfer in moist porous materials and theories on thermo- and fluid-dynamics are used to support the machine design. Outcomes from the research are to develop a heat transfer model that provides more precise and effective calculation for heat setting machine design that unavailable from the developed machine prototypes.


Background Increases in fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5) have been linked to rises in cardiovascular hospital admissions and deaths. Yet, the mechanism behind this effect remains unknown. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) are inflammatory markers produced by the liver in response to IL-6 that are thought to be of value for predicting cardiovascular events. Studies have linked PM2.5 exposure to a rise in inflammatory markers including SAA and CRP in the blood, but have always relied on estimating incidental PM2.5 exposure. We hypothesized that exposure to 200 μg/m3 diesel exhaust particles (DEP) for two hours would result in a rise in inflammatory markers at a sampling time 22 hours after the beginning of the exposure in young healthy adults Study Design and Methods We proposed a randomized crossover experiment in nine healthy individuals to four exposure conditions (filtered air or diesel exhaust at 50, 100, or 200 μg DEP PM2.5 /m3). Subjects were exposed in a 100 cubic meter exposure chamber. Exposure was characterized using continuous reading instruments (TEOM, PSAP, 2 CPCs, CO monitor, and NOx monitor). Blood samples were collected before exposure, as well as 6 hours and 22 hours after the onset of the exposure session. High-sensitivity CRP and SAA assays were run on each of the samples. Results Changes were seen in CRP levels following exposure to diesel exhaust when compared with the control exposure, but because of the small sample size, the results cannot be considered significant. For the eight subjects with complete data, six had an increase in CRP at 22 hours following the 200 μg/m3 exposure that ranged from 0.2 to 2.0 mg/L, with one subject remaining unchanged and another showing a decrease in CRP concentration. For the four subjects with complete SAA data, no consistent relationship was appreciated. Data from this pilot study helped us to see that changes, especially in CRP, do appear to occur at the chosen sampling times and the protocol is encouraging for a larger study. Conclusion A continuation of this study with a larger sample size would be valuable in determining whether a rise in the studied inflammatory markers occurs in response to controlled exposure to diesel exhaust.


The informal housing issue was included into the agenda of Turkey in the 1950s. The outskirts of major cities are still crowded with informal and low quality houses. Today, Istanbul is under the influence of global flows and the big scaled urban transformation projects are being planned to rearrange the degraded areas. In this context, the squatters are displaced whereas the land profit is transferred to the big capitalists. However, social movements and resistance arise against these projects and the housing issue of poor people is discussed in various forums for the sake of developing their socioeconomic and cultural status in the cities. This paper aims to discuss the concepts, "the right to the city" and "the right to inhabit" within the context of the neoliberal regimes and the consequential economic, socio-cultural, ideological and spatial transformation occurred both in the world cities and Istanbul. The first part of the paper is shared for the discussions on the issues of neoliberalism, social exclusion and the concepts, "the rights to the city", "the right to inhabit". The successive phases of gecekondu phenomenon are examined in order to form the basis for the evaluations of the current status of squatters and their houses in the city. In the second part, the physical and social structure of Yeni Sahra squatter settlement in Anatolian part of Istanbul is discussed in relation to the research mainly on the characteristics of inhabitants and houses. The incremental development of the squatter houses versus urban transformation projects is considered by thinking the integration of the inhabitants into the city life.


Mineral maps based on Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data were used to study late Miocene advanced argillic alteration at Cuprite, Nevada. Distributions of Fe-bearing minerals, clays, micas, sulfates, and carbonates were mapped using the Tetracorder spectral-shape matching system. The Al content of white micas increases toward altered areas and near intrusive rocks. Alunite composition varies from pure K to intimate mixtures of Na-K endmembers with subpixel occurrences of huangite, the Ca analogue of alunite. Intimately mixed Na-K alunite marks areas of relatively lower alteration temperature, whereas co-occurring Na-alunite and dickite may delineate relict hydrothermal conduits. The presence of dickite, halloysite, and well-ordered kaolinite, but absence of disordered kaolinite, is consistent with acidic conditions during hydrothermal alteration. Partial lichen cover on opal spectrally mimics chalcedony, limiting its detection to lichen-free areas. Pods of buddingtonite are remnants of initial quartz-adularia-smectite alteration. Thus, spectral maps provide a synoptic view of the surface mineralogy, and define a previously unrecognized early steam-heated hydrothermal event.

Faulting and episodes of hydrothermal alteration at Cuprite were intimately linked to upper plate movements above the Silver Peak-Lone Mountain detachment and growth, collapse, and resurgence of the nearby Stonewall Mountain volcanic complex between 8 and 5 Ma. Isotopic dating indicates that hydrothermal activity started at least by 7.61 Ma and ended by about 6.2 Ma. Spectral and stable isotope data suggest that Cuprite is a late Miocene low-sulfidation adularia-sericite type hot spring deposit overprinted by late-stage, steam-heated advanced argillic alteration formed along the margin of the Stonewall Mountain caldera.


A key feature of intelligent behavior is the ability to learn abstract strategies that transfer to unfamiliar problems. Therefore, we present a novel architecture, based on memory-augmented networks, that is inspired by the von Neumann and Harvard architectures of modern computers. This architecture enables the learning of abstract algorithmic solutions via Evolution Strategies in a reinforcement learning setting. Applied to Sokoban, sliding block puzzle and robotic manipulation tasks, we show that the architecture can learn algorithmic solutions with strong generalization and abstraction: scaling to arbitrary task configurations and complexities, and being independent of both the data representation and the task domain.


In this paper, an asymptotically stabilizing, nonlinear flight controller design via immersion and invariance (I&I) approach for a fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicle is presented. The objective is to adjust pitch, roll, and yaw angles with the control inputs aileron, elevator, and rudder deflections. The important issues in designing a controller for fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are to cope with its nonlinear dynamics and to obtain a controller that can deal with various disturbances. Existing linear controllers cannot deal well with the nonlinear dynamics of the UAVs and that can not guarantee stability outside of the considered operating point. On the other hand, widely used nonlinear controllers have some weaknesses. Such as sliding mode controllers are robust to disturbances but suffer from the chattering phenomenon, and the backstepping controllers are not very robust to disturbances. The proposed controller ensures global stability with smooth and precise reference tracking and also yields significant disturbance attenuation without the chattering phenomenon. I&I approach also enables us to directly assign closed‐loop dynamics. Thus, tuning of the proposed controller is straightforward. Most of the other nonlinear methods do not have straightforward tuning of control parameters to assign desired dynamics to a closed‐loop system. The superior performance of the proposed controller is shown via simulations for various disturbances in comparison with the sliding mode controllers; the one with standard control law and the one with modified control law that eliminate the chattering phenomenon.


The National Airspace System (NAS) in the United States had an inventory of 5,156 big jets at the end of December 2002, of which 4,085 were narrow bodies, and 1,071 were wide bodies. In addition, there were 1,180 regional jets and 660 turboprops in the system at that time. Empirical research reveals that there is a critical link between the flow of scheduled passenger services and the choice of aircraft used by the airlines in serving market pair demand. This relationship can be empirically retrieved without detailed knowledge of airlines' behavior and used for analyzing traffic patterns in the NAS. Using the T100 segment data from the first two quarters of 2004, a multinomial qualitative choice model is developed in this paper. This framework establishes empirical linkages among aircraft choice, and passenger flows, distance, types of airport hubs, network and time of the year. Estimated models demonstrate that both passengers and distance play important roles in selecting types of aircraft. Overall, the model is capable of predicting exact choices 51% of the time; with some flexibility of making a one-off mistake, the model is capable of making almost nine out of 10 choices correctly. Using the estimated coefficients from the qualitative choice model and varying assumptions (number of passengers, in particular), forecasts of aircraft operations by market segments and the fleet mix can easily be generated. These forecasts can then be used to understand the performance of the U.S. NAS.


Background: This study examined how human resource management (HRM) can directly and indirectly in fl uence sustainable organizational performance (SOP), with organizational innovation (OI) as a mediator. Research methods: For this quantitative study, a 31-item questionnaire was used to collect data on HRM and SOP from 20 Shanghai branches of fi ve Chinese banks. HRM was de fi ned as multidimensional, consisting of employee staf fi ng, staff development, performance management, and compensation and bene fi ts. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 3.2) was used to estimate the effects. Results: The HRM practices of performance management and compensation and bene fi ts showed a direct and positive in fl uence on SOP. Looking at indirect relationships, all four dimensions of HRM practices were positively related to OI (product, process, and knowledge innovation), which, in turn, was positively related to SOP. Organizational innovation was thus shown to play a mediating role between HRM and SOP. Conclusion: The study emphasizes that the banking sector of China consists of many employees who maintain old styles of working, alongside some who attempt to take on the new innovative working mechanisms and engage with staff development programs. This latter group of personnel make a valuable contribution to SOP. Moreover, the effect on organizational dynamics of implementing HRM practices aids in bringing about innovations in processes, products, and knowledge.


Contacts' temporal ordering and dynamics, such as their order and timing, are crucial for understanding the transmission of infectious diseases. Using path-preserving temporal networks, we evaluate the effect of spatial pods (social distancing pods) and temporal pods (meetings' rate reduction) on the spread of the disease. We use our interaction-driven contagion model, instantiated for COVID-19, over history-maintaining random temporal networks as well as over real-world contacts. We find that temporal pods significantly reduce the overall number of infected individuals and slow the spread of the disease. This result is robust under changing initial conditions, such as initial patients' numbers and locations. Social distancing (spatial) pods perform well only at the initial phase of the disease, i.e., with a minimal number of initial patients. Using real-life contact information and extending our interaction-driven model to consider the exposures, we demonstrate the beneficial effect of reducing the temporal density on overall infection rates. We further show that slow-spreading pathogens spread almost as fast-spreading pathogens in dense topologies. Our results show that given the same transmission level, there is a decrease in the disease's rate and spread in less dense networks. Thus, reducing the rate of encounters is more effective than social distancing.


Abstract Background: It remains unclear which item format would best suit the assessment of clinical reasoning: context-rich single best answer questions (crSBAs) or key-feature problems (KFPs). This study compared KFPs and crSBAs with respect to students' acceptance, their educational impact, and psychometric characteristics when used in a summative end-of-clinical-clerkship pediatric exam. Methods: Fifth-year medical students (n = 377) took a computer-based exam that included 6–9 KFPs and 9–20 crSBAs which assessed their clinical reasoning skills, in addition to an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) that assessed their clinical skills. Each KFP consisted of a case vignette and three key features using a "long-menu" question format. We explored students' perceptions of the KFPs and crSBAs in eight focus groups and analyzed statistical data of 11 exams. Results: Compared to crSBAs, KFPs were perceived as more realistic and difficult, providing a greater stimulus for the intense study of clinical reasoning, and were generally well accepted. The statistical analysis revealed no difference in difficulty, but KFPs resulted more reliable and efficient than crSBAs. The correlation between the two formats was high, while KFPs correlated more closely with the OSCE score. Conclusions: KFPs with long-menu exams seem to bring about a positive educational effect without psychometric drawbacks.


A two-dimensional resistivity survey of Kaduna Polytechnic Demonstration Secondary School, Northwest, Nigeria was conducted using the Wenner alpha electrode configuration. Measurements of three profiles separated by 20 m were investigated in the study area with the aid of an ABEM SAS 300C instrument. A manual data collection technique was employed with the aim of determining the groundwater potential of the study area by investigating the degree of weathering and fracturing in the weathered profile developed above the crystalline basement. The observed resistivity data were inverted using the RES2DINV code. Results from the 2D inverse models of resistivity variation with depth suggest the occurrence of potential aquifers mostly in weathered/fractured zones within the traps or below it. Also, the resistivity models produced indicate the presence of fracture zone that could be exploited for groundwater extraction. To verify the interpreted results (Fractures) from the 2D resistivity data, azimuthal resistivity measurement using the OffsetWenner technique was conducted beside the observed anomalous zone. Cartesians azimuthal graphs of RD1 and RD2 and coefficients of anisotropy (λ) obtained from the OffsetWenner VES measurements at greater depths (18 24 m) indicate homogeneously anisotropic ground suggesting fracturing at these depths, consequently, complimenting the 2D resistivity data.


This paper summarizes work done by Macmillan Science and Education to create a publicly accessible repository of the data models and datasets which underlie its semantic publishing architecture. In particular, we give a brief history of our work with linked data, we describe the nature.com ontologies portal and the data models and datasets we have published, we discuss mappings to external datasets and a mechanism for publishing to different knowledge-bases, and finally we provide some data handling best practices and conclude with a few hopes for future development.


The objective of this research was to build digital image denoising system with Haar and Daubechies (Db3) Wavelet using Matlab R2009a and compare the effectiveness of the Haar and Daubechies (Db3) Wavelet in performing digital image denoising using parameters Mean Square Error (MSE) and Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR). A simulation of denoising system using software MATLAB R2009a was made to facilitate this research. The method used to construct simulation of denoising system is linear sequential model. Digital image data used in this simulation is digital image of Semarang District Region's map. From the result of simulation, the method that has the best effectiveness in denoising digital image which generated with Gaussian noise and Speckle noise is the Daubechies (Db3) Wavelet, whereas for digital image which generated by Salt & Pepper noise is the Haar Wavelet.


Much had been written in Islamic (notably in Arabic and Persian) and Western (particularly English and French) languages about the monumental mujaddid (Islamic reformer) and political activist Jamāl al-Dīn al-Husaini (1838-1897), popularly known by his self- styled pseudonym "al-Afghāni". Nonetheless, this article revisits him mainly because the challenges that the Islamic world faced and which he tried, in vain, to address during his turbulent time remain basically the same in our chaotic time, even in a much acute
form after the historic September 11, 2001 incident. Chief among those are the devastating Shi'i-Sunni conflict and the accelerating Western cultural and physical invasion of the Muslim world The article attempts to give a fresh interpretation and assessment of Afghāni's complex character, stormy life and religo-political legacy. The study also poses a presumably interesting question, namely, why Afghāni's
visionary thought was not acclaimed during his life, and may it be recalled now to address the stubborn problem that the Muslims are currently facing, particularly the Muslim-Muslim confrontation in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, and the general disarray of the Ummah?


This paper studies the determinants of patent suits and settlements during 1978–99 by linking information from the U.S. patent office, the federal courts, and industry sources. We find that litigation risk is much higher for patents that are owned by individuals and firms with small patent portfolios. Patentees with a large portfolio of patents to trade, or other characteristics that facilitate "cooperative" resolution of disputes, are much less likely to prosecute infringement suits. However, postsuit outcomes do not depend on these characteristics. These findings show that small patentees are at a significant disadvantage in protecting their patent rights because their greater litigation risk is not offset by more rapid resolution of their suits. Our empirical estimates of the heterogeneity in litigation risk can help in developing private patent litigation insurance to mitigate the adverse affects of high enforcement costs.


In this project, we studied the morphology of SiO2/TiO2 hollow nanoparticles (HNPs), the morphology of polymer-embedded HNPs and diffusion of solvents into polymer-embedded HNPs, mainly based on small angle scattering methods.

The average outer diameter, average inner diameter and polydispersity of HNPs were characterized by a combination of experimental methods, including light, X-ray and neutron scattering, electron microscopy and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Furthermore, the porosity of the shells of HNPs and the size of intrawall pores were determined by a new method proposed with the combination of the above techniques.

Three kinds of polymer-embedded HNP systems were prepared by freeze drying technique, i.e. poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-embedded HNPs, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-embedded HNPs and polyethylene (PE)-embedded HNPs. The morphology of polymer-embedded HNP systems was investigated by SAXS and electron microscopy. A multi-shell sphere model was proposed to analyze the experimental SAXS data. For PEO-embedded HNPs, HNPs were observed to be supported on porous PEO scaffold. Moreover, it was found that nearly 96% of HNPs were buried uniformly in the PEO matrix, with a thin porous PEO layer deposited on the inner surface of HNP. However, the analysis for the morphology of PMMA-embedded HNPs and PE-embedded HNPs with current SAXS model was hindered due to the aggregation of HNPs.

Diffusion of solvents into polymer-embedded HNP systems was monitored by in-situ SAXS. Complex SAXS models were further proposed to obtain the diffusion kinetics. Diffusion of liquid low molecular PEO in PEO-embedded HNPs was found to consist of three stages, i.e. induction stage, steady state stage and depletion stage. It was further found that the filling rate of HNPs by solvent in the steady state stage was about 3 times faster than that in the induction stage and about 90 times faster than that in the depletion stage. Diffusion of water in PMMA-embedded HNPs and diffusion of oleyl alcohol and tetrafluorobenzene in PE-embedded HNPs were found to consist of a fast process and a slow process, which correspond to the relatively fast wetting of the polymer surface and the slow diffusion of solvents in the polymer matrix, respectively.


This paper will introduce and contextualise the art activist initiative the Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home, run from a council house in Liverpool, UK. The paper will discuss the invisible maternal labour and underpaid au pair labour in relation to the projects, which took place through the Institute: Sid Jonah Anderson by Lena Simic (MAP Live, Carlisle 2008), Au Pair Artist Wants to be part of the Liverpool EU Capital of Culture 2008 with Great British Family (Cvjeticanin, 2008) and The Hazardous Family (Hazard Festival, Manchester, 2008). Particular focus will be paid to Polygon artist Branka Cvjeticanin and her artist residency that took place at the Institute in Liverpool and lasted 14 days in July 2008. These arts projects will be contextualised with the historical, materialist, feminist art from the late 1960s and 1970, and more contemporarily, within cultural contexts that the Institute defines as anti-capitalist and/or feminist, both of which are particularly adept at outlining formulations of cultural agency through the rubric of the personal as political. The three arts projects aim to offer a playful as well as affective social critique on the invisibility of maternal labour, whilst bearing in mind and referencing different histories, memories, economies and geopolitical locations, past and present. Finally, the paper ends by opening up an argument for affective 'creative exchange' (Iris Marion Young), which can take place through multiple subjective encounters, shared between artists, parents, children, feminist histories, theories and labour.


Conducting crystals of alternating ferrocene and diiodoacetylene units assembled into supramolecular 1-D chains via I⋯π(Cp) halogen bonds were prepared and structurally characterized. Their structure and conductivity were compared with the ferrocene cocrystals with phenyliodoacetylene (C6H5C2I) and 1,4-di(ethynyliodo)phenylene. Electrical conductivity measurements of the ferrocene-based cocrystals revealed comparatively high electron–hole type conductivity in the ferrocene (FcH)–diiodoacetylene (C2I2) pair, a 3-order decrease in combination with the 1,4-di(ethynyliodo)phenylene linker, and it is virtually extinguished with the monotopic 1,2-phenyliodoacetylene. The increased electric conductivity of compound 1 is rationalized in terms of a weak charge transfer through the I⋯πCp halogen bonds in the [Cp–Fe–Cp⋯I–CC–I⋯]n polymeric chains.


The lacertid lizard Podarcis tauricus tauricus is recorded from Yorukkoy, Duzce Province, in the western Black Sea region. With the record of the present study, the known distribution area of the subspecies has been extended about 90 km eastward. The pholidolial and morphometric characters and color-pattern features of the specimens were compared with specimens from a known Turkish locality with regard to the literature. We observed that the specimens of the Yorukkoy population were similar to P. T. Tauricus specimens reported in the literature.


Asset managers often have to spread their order executions over several days to minimize liquidity impact. In this paper, we present a framework for evaluating multi-day execution strategies and use a sample of multi-day agency executions to quantify the trade-offs. Our analysis shows that for volatile stocks and/or long execution horizons, execution risk can easily overwhelm all other considerations. For stocks with daily close-to-close volatility of 3%, for example, the five-day execution risk is 400 basis points. The evidence from our sample of multi-day executions suggests that for daily executions up to 15% average daily volume and up to five-day execution horizons, cross-day impact persistence and information leakage are relatively small: the impact cost of selling 15 million shares over five days, for example, is only slightly higher than the impact cost of selling 3 million shares over one day. Our multi-day executions, however, have high 50 basis points short-term alpha. This high alpha raises the cost of spreading execution across days.


The security of the maritime domain has become a topical area of concern, with threats thereto manifesting in multiple ways, ranging from military activities at sea to marine litter discharges and noise pollution. As an issue of common interest of the international community, maritime security has ignited some commendable initiatives both internationally and regionally, aimed at setting up new legal and institutional frameworks of cooperation. However, current regimes have proved to be ill-suited to address the globalized maritime challenges of today. By and large, a sustained common vision on how to better serve the common interest is currently lacking, owing in part to an intricate North-South divide over both rights and obligations regarding ocean governance. It is thus still necessary to merge the priorities of the various stakeholders into a comprehensive maritime security architecture. This policy brief purports to illustrate this state of affairs through a brief analysis of major themes related to maritime security. Rather than addressing issues of entitlement to ocean space and use, the present paper concentrates on the question of how to conceive a responsible use of the maritime domain. For its purposes, the analysis in this paper is of course more illustrative than comprehensive and is intended to highlight current challenges and issues that should be taken into account by policymakers in the regulation of emerging seas uses.


Accumulating evidences have suggested the existence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), which possess the potential of both self-renewal and differentiation. The origin of BCSCs might have relationship to the development of normal mammary stem cells. BCSCs are believed to play a key role in the initiation, recurrence and chemo-/radiotherapy resistances of breast cancer. Therefore, elimination of BCSCs is crucial for breast cancer therapy. However, conventional chemo and radiation therapies cannot eradicate BCSCs effectively. Fortunately, nanotechnology holds great potential for specific and efficient anti-BCSCs treatment. "Smart" nanocarriers can distinguish BCSCs from the other breast cancer cells and selectively deliver therapeutic agents to the BCSCs. Emerging findings suggest that BCSCs in breast cancer could be successfully inhibited and even eradicated by functionalized nanomedicines. In this review, we focus on origin of BCSCs, strategies used to target BCSCs, and summarize the nanotechnology-based delivery systems that have been applied for eliminating BCSCs in breast cancer.


This paper explores the challenges posed by air pollution in conservation of heritage buildings and focuses on policy intervention. India is abode of innumerable historical monuments and invaluable heritage buildings. Every state in India has its own historicity and heritage sites. Air pollution is alarming in India that India accounts for 1.1 million deaths due to air pollution and double this number die from co-related pollution disorders every year. Urban centers are facing havoc situation with air pollution and India is supposed to beat China in coming years in air pollution measurable. But the increasing challenges of air pollution are causing greater damage to heritage buildings. Vehicular traffic emission , fly ash dust , coal heating , burning of trash , factory smoke etc are causing heavy damage to historical buildings etc Chemical pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide along with carbonyl are causing damage to outer surfaces of heritage buildings As a result , the buildings are fading and quickly decaying , thus giving a jolt to Indian heritage & historical identity. There is a need to create awareness about architectural conservation and understand the dangers caused by air pollution to Indian heritage preservation. A concrete policy on air pollution containing can prevail to assist and support awareness initiatives & there by join hands in preserving historical antiquity.


In recent theoretical and experimental investigations, researchers have linked the low-energy field theory of a Weyl semimetal gapped with a charge-density wave (CDW) to high-energy theories with axion electrodynamics. However, it remains an open question whether a lattice regularization of the dynamical Weyl-CDW is in fact a single-particle axion insulator (AXI). In this Letter, we use analytic and numerical methods to study both lattice-commensurate and incommensurate minimal (magnetic) Weyl-CDW phases in the mean-field state. We observe that, as previously predicted from field theory, the two inversion- ($\mathcal{I}$-) symmetric Weyl-CDWs with $\phi = 0,\pi$ differ by a topological axion angle $\delta\theta_{\phi}=\pi$. However, we crucially discover that $neither$ of the minimal Weyl-CDW phases at $\phi=0,\pi$ is individually an AXI; they are instead quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) and "obstructed" QAH insulators that differ by a fractional translation in the modulated cell, analogous to the two phases of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model of polyacetylene. Using symmetry indicators of band topology and non-abelian Berry phase, we demonstrate that our results generalize to multi-band systems with only two Weyl fermions, establishing that minimal Weyl-CDWs unavoidably carry nontrivial Chern numbers that prevent the observation of a static magnetoelectric response. We discuss the experimental implications of our findings, and briefly outline generalizations to nonmagnetic semimetals with additional Weyl points.


Twenty-six species from various sections of the genus Pluteus have been recorded from Turkey until now. In this study, phylogenetic analyses inferred from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) were conducted for species delimitation and for comparisons with closely related taxa of Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma in Turkey. Our results show that P. granularis is recorded in Turkey and Europe for the first time, P. granulatus in Turkey for the first time and in Europe for the third time, P. umbrosoides in Turkey for the first time and in the world for the second time, and P. variabilicolor in Turkey for the first time. Also in this study, sequencing data for P. leoninus, P. plautus, P. roseipes, P. semibulbosus and P. umbrosus as well as the above-mentioned new records are presented for the first time from Turkey as a different geographical area. Analyses of the ITS showed that the lowest sequence divergence among in-group taxa was observed between P. semibulbosus and P. aff. semibulbosus 0.010% (SE = 0.004), the next was between P. chrysaegis and P. conizatus var. africanus 0.012% (SE = 0.004). The highest sequence divergence with in-group taxa was found between P. plautus and P. umbrosoides, 0.351% (SE = 0.039). In terms of habitat, Fagus orientalis is recorded as a new host for P. granulatus, P. granularis, P. umbrosoides, and P. umbrosus; Picea orentalis is a new host to P. granularis; Carpinus betulus for P. umbrosus; and the relict endemic Liquidambar orientalis for P. variabilicolor. Finally, this study provides detailed morphological descriptions, macro photographs and microstructure drawings relating to species of Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma from Turkey, which are rare, interesting and noteworthy. An identification key is provided for present species of Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma occurring in the country.