The purpose of this study was to examine the effect on hippocampus morphology and learning behavior in rat pups following prenatal exposure to a 900 megahertz (MHz) electromagnetic field (EMF). Female Sprague Dawley rats weighing 180-250 g were left to mate with males. The following day, pregnant rats identified as such by the vaginal smear test were divided into two groups, control (n=3) and EMF (n=3). No procedures were performed on the control group. The rats in the EMF group were exposed to 900 MHz EMF on days 13 to 21 of pregnancy, for 1 h a day. Female rat pups were removed from their mothers at 22 days old. We then established two newborn rat groups, a 13 member control group and a 10 member EMF group. Radial arm maze and passive avoidance tests were used to measure rat pups' learning and memory performance. All rats were decapitated on the postnatal 32nd day. Routine histological procedures were performed on the brain tissues, and sections were stained with Cresyl fast violet. The radial arm maze (p=0.007) and passive avoidance (p=0.032) tests were administered to both groups under identical conditions, and compromised learning behavior was determined in the EMF group rats. Morphological compromise was also determined in the EMF group sections. Our results show that the application of a 900 MHz EMF in the prenatal period adversely affected female pups' learning behavior and also resulted in histopathological changes appearing in the hippocampus.

NeuroQuantology | December 2013 | Volume 11 | Issue 4 | Page 582-590


The Rocky Mountains in the USA and Canada encompass the interior cordillera of western North America, from the southern Yukon to northern New Mexico. Annual weather patterns are cold in winter and mild in summer. Precipitation has high seasonal and interannual variation and may differ by an order of magnitude between geographically close locales, depending on slope, aspect and local climatic and orographic conditions. The region's hydrology is characterized by the accumulation of winter snow, spring snowmelt and autumnal baseflows. During the 2-3-month 'spring runoff period, rivers frequently discharge > 70% of their annual water budget and have instantaneous discharges 10-100 times mean low flow. Complex weather patterns characterized by high spatial and temporal variability make predictions of future conditions tenuous. However, general patterns are identifiable; northern and western portions of the region are dominated by maritime weather patterns from the North Pacific, central areas and eastern slopes are dominated by continental air masses and southern portions receive seasonally variable atmospheric circulation from the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. Significant interannual variations occur in these general patterns, possibly related to ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation) forcing. Changes in precipitation and temperature regimes or patterns have significant potential effects on the distribution and abundance of plants and animals. For example, elevation of the timber-line is principally a function of temperature. Palaeolimnological investigations have shown significant shifts in phyto- and zoo-plankton populations as alpine lakes shift between being above or below the timber-line. Likewise, streamside vegetation has a significant effect on stream ecosystem structure and function. Changes in stream temperature regimes result in significant changes in community composition as a consequence of bioenergetic factors. Stenothermic species could be extirpated as appropriate thermal criteria disappear. Warming temperatures may geographically isolate cole water stream fishes in increasingly confined headwaters. The heat budgets of large lakes may be affected resulting in a change of state between dimictic and warm monomictic character. Uncertainties associated with prediction are increased by the planting of fish in historically fishless, high mountain lakes and the introduction of non-native species of fishes and invertebrates into often previously simple food-webs of large valley bottom lakes and streams. Many of the streams and rivers suffer from the anthropogenic effects of abstraction and regulation. Likewise, many of the large lakes receive nutrient loads from a growing human population. We concluded that: (1) regional climate models are required to resolve adequately the complexities of the high gradient landscapes; (2) extensive wilderness preserves and national park lands, so prevalent in the Rocky Mountain Region, provide sensitive areas for differentiation of anthropogenic effects from climate effects; and (3) future research should encompass both short-term intensive studies and long-term monitoring studies developed within comprehensive experimental arrays of streams and lakes specifically designed to address the issue of anthropogenic versus climatic effects.


Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to ongoing debates regarding the human resource management (HRM)-firm performance relationship. In seeking to provide a more complete picture of the relationship, the paper discusses the existing literature and proposes an integrative framework that draws upon different literatures and multiple theoretical perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

This review includes nearly 100 research studies published in this field. The review includes papers published in mainstream HRM journals and broader management journals with strong ties to HRM literature. Importantly, the paper also identifies a gap – a missing link – that concerns the importance of incorporating insights from corporate governance (CG) literature when considering strategic HR decision-making.

Findings

A significant contribution of this paper to theory is to propose an integrative framework that conceptualises the elusive relationship between HRM and firm performance, and which draws on different literatures and multiple theoretical perspectives in to offer more holistic insights into the relationship. The paper discusses the implications of the integrative perspective for theory and practice.

Originality value

This paper argues that one of the main stumbling blocks for developing a better understanding of the mechanisms through which HRM creates value in an organisation is the fragmentation of the HRM literature between "HR as practices" and "HR as the department/profession", as well as a tendency to neglect insights from the CG literature.


We have reported a case of partial hypopituitarism involving deficient ACTH, LH, FSH, and growth hormone production and elevated prolactin. The hypopituitarism was caused by injury to the pituitary resulting from a parachute accident without direct craniocerebral trauma. The pathogenesis of this pituitary injury as either a clivus fracture near the sella, unilated abstruction of the internal carotid artery, and/or direct stalk injury. Clinicians should be alerted to the possibility of hypopituitarism from direct or indirect cranial injuries.


Objective: Schizophrenia researchers have focused on phenomenological aspects of the disorder to better understand its underlying nature. In particular, development of personal narratives—that is, the complexity with which people form, organize, and articulate their "life stories"—has recently been investigated in individuals with schizophrenia. However, less is known about how aspects of narrative relate to indicators of neurocognitive and social functioning. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of linguistic complexity of life-story narratives to measures of cognitive and social problem-solving abilities among people with schizophrenia. Method: Thirty-two individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia completed a research battery consisting of clinical interviews, a life-story narrative, neurocognitive testing, and a measure assessing multiple aspects of social problem solving. Narrative interviews were assessed for linguistic complexity using computerized technology. Results: The results indicate differential relationships of linguistic complexity and neurocognition to domains of social problem-solving skills. More specifically, although neurocognition predicted how well one could both describe and enact a solution to a social problem, linguistic complexity alone was associated with accurately recognizing that a social problem had occurred. In addition, linguistic complexity appears to be a cognitive factor that is discernible from other broader measures of neurocognition. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Linguistic complexity may be more relevant in understanding earlier steps of the social problem-solving process than more traditional, broad measures of cognition, and thus is relevant in conceptualizing treatment targets. These findings also support the relevance of developing narrative-focused psychotherapies.


Cranioplasty is the procedure that repairs holes or defects in the skull with cranial implants. When the bone from the hole is missing, damaged, or infected, the defect needs to be covered with an artificial plate to protect the brain. In this paper, a hole-repairing algorithm is developed to aid in shaping artificial plates for Cranioplasty, by describing a method for filling holes in defective biomodels with unstructured triangular surface meshes or in stereo-lithography format.1 The resulting patching meshes interpolate the shape and density of the surrounding mesh. The steps in repairing a hole include hole identification, hole triangulations using Genetic Algorithm optimization, and a customized advancing-front meshing technique using surface approximations based on a Quartic Bézier patch/surface.


Studies have suggested that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin (LtxA) kills human lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1; CD11a/CD18)-bearing immune cells through a lysosomal-mediated mechanism. Lysosomes are membrane-bound cellular organelles that contain an array of acid hydrolases that are capable of breaking down biomolecules. The lysosomal membrane bilayer confines the pH-sensitive enzymes within an optimal acidic (pH 4.8) environment thereby protecting the slightly basic cytosol (pH 6.8-7.5). In the current study, we have probed the effect of LtxA-induced cytolysis on lysosomal integrity in two different K562 erythroleukemia cell lines. K562-puro/LFA-1 cells were stably transfected with CD11a and CD18 cDNA to express LFA-1 on the cell surface while K562-puro, which does not express LFA-1, served as a control. Following treatment with 100 ng ml(-1) LtxA cells were analyzed by live cell imaging in conjunction with time-lapse confocal microscopy and by flow cytometry. Using a pH-sensitive indicator (pHrodo(®)) we demonstrated that the toxin causes a decrease in the intracellular pH in K562-puro/LFA-1 cells that is noticeable within the first 15 min of treatment. This process correlated with the disappearance of lysosomes in the cytosol as determined by both acridine orange and LysoTracker(®) Red DND-99 staining. These changes were not observed in K562-puro cells or when heat inactivated toxin was added to K562-puro/LFA-1. Our results suggest that LtxA induces lysosomal damage, cytosol acidification, which is followed by cell death in K562-puro/LFA-1 cells.


Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 18F-FDG has emerged as a powerful tool in oncology. Furthermore, recent advent of PET/CT and novel tracers are continually expanding its role. This thesis investigates its application in two solid cancer models.
In the diagnosing of primary pancreatic cancer, 18F-FDG PET/CT was shown to be more accurate than conventional CT. It did not add information to locoregional staging of disease but impacted management of patients with potentially operable tumours, by accurately confirming the presence / absence of metastases. In the pre-operative staging of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM), 18F- FDG PET/CT was also superior to CT in assessing extrahepatic disease, where it again impacted management. The accuracy of detecting hepatic disease was similar for both. Compared to PET alone, PET/CT improved the accuracy of lesions localization and interpretation.
Next, the feasibility of imaging with the novel thymidine analogue tracer 18F-FLT was investigated. Overall, 18F-FLT PET was less accurate than 18F-FDG in detecting lesions in both cancer types, thus suggesting it to be an unsuitable tracer for routine diagnosis and staging. In the cohort of pancreatic cancer patients, 18F-FLT uptake (SUVs) were found to strongly correlate with the immunohistochemical proliferation marker, Ki-67 antigen. This supported 18F-FLT"s potential role as a surrogate marker of proliferation. The prognostic implications of these require further investigation.
Finally, an in vitro model was use to examine early changes in 18F-FLT uptake in response to treatment with cytotoxics. At 2 hours following pulse treatment with 5-fluorouracil, (and before changes in cell numbers and cell cycle phase were seen), a dose dependent increase in 18F-FLT uptake was seen. No change was observed with 18F-FDG nor following Cisplatin treatment. This adaptive response may have a role as an early predictor of response to 5-FU (and potentially other antimetabolites), which requires further investigation.


The path of tire pattern's impact on interior noise and vibration was analyzed. The same type tires with six kinds of different tread pattern were selected as the investigating subjects, and the interior measuring points' vibration and noise signals of different tires were measured under full load condition. The basic theory of Wavelet Transform (WT) and its signal reconstruction principle were researched, and 1/3 octave Morlet wavelet was induced and analyzed. The vibration and noise signals of measuring points were transformed by using 1/3 octave Morlet wavelet, distribution features of vibration and noise signals of six tires with different tread pattern were made a comparison in time domain and frequency domain, and the distinct results of different tires were achieved. The advantage of WT in the aspect of time-frequency analysis for time domain signal is revealed.


With the increasing demand of computation capabilities, many-core processors are gain-ing more and more attention. As a communication subsystem many-core processors, Network-on-Chip (NoC) draws a lot of attention in the related research fields. A NoC is used to deliver messages among different cores. For many applications, timeliness is of great importance, especially when the application has hard real-time requirements. Thus, the worst-case end-to-end delays of all the messages passing through a NoC should be concerned. Unfortunately, there is no existing analysis tool that can support multiple NoC architectures as well as provide a user-friendly interface.This thesis focuses on a wormhole switched NoC using different arbitration policies which are Fixed Priority (FP) and Round Robin (RR) respectively. FP based arbitration policy includes distinct and shared priority based arbitration policies. We have developed a timing analysis tool targeting the above NoC designs. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) in the tool can simplify the operation of users. The tool takes characteristics of flow sets as input, and returns results regarding the worst-case end-to-end delay of each flow. These results can be used to assist the design of real-time applications on the corre-sponding platform.A number of experiments have been generated to compare different arbitration mecha-nisms using the developed tool. The evaluation focuses on the effect of different param-eters including the number of flows and the number of virtual-channels in a NoC, and the number of hops of each flow. In the first set of experiment, we focus on the schedulabil-ity ratio achieved by different arbitration policies regarding the number of flows. The sec-ond set of experiments focus on the comparison between NoCs with different number of virtual-channels. In the last set of experiments, we compare different arbitration mecha-nisms with respect to the worst-case end-to-end latencies.


Progress in collaborative networks continues showing a growing number of manifestations and has led to the acceptance of Collaborative Networks (CN) as a new scientific discipline. Contributions to CN coming from multiple reference disciplines has been extensively investigated. In fact developments in CN have benefited from contributions of multiple areas, namely computer science, computer engineering, communications and networking, management, economy, social sciences, law and ethics, etc. Furthermore, some theories and paradigms defined elsewhere have been suggested by several research groups as promising tools to help define and characterize emerging collaborative organizational forms. Although still at the beginning of a long way to go, there is a growing awareness in the research and academic world, for the need to establish a stronger theoretical foundation for this new discipline and a number of recent works are contributing to this goal. From a utilitarian perspective, agility has been pointed out as one of the most appealing characteristics of collaborative networks to face the challenges of a fast changing socio-economic context. However, during the last years it became more evident that finding the right partners and establishing the necessary preconditions for starting an effective collaboration process are both costly and time consuming activities, and therefore an inhibitor of the aimed agility. Among others, obstacles include lack of information (e.g. non-availability of catalogs with normalized profiles of organizations) and lack of preparedness of organizations to join the collaborative process. Overcoming the mismatches resulting from the heterogeneity of potential partners (e.g. differences in infrastructures, corporate culture, methods of work, and business practices) requires considerable investment. Building trust, a pre-requisite for any effective collaboration, is not straight forward and requires time. Therefore the effective creation of truly dynamic collaborative networks requires a proper context in which potential members are prepared to rapidly get engaged in collaborative processes. The concept of breeding environment has thus emerged as an important facilitator for wider dissemination of collaborative networks and their practical materialization. The PRO-VE'05 held in Valencia, Spain, continues the 6th event in a series of successful working conferences on virtual enterprises. This book includes selected papers from that conference and should become a valuable tool to all of those interested in the advances and challenges of collaborative networks.


Higher vertebrates, including humans, are capable not only of forward (FW) locomotion but also of walking in other directions relative to the body axis [backward (BW), sideways, etc.]. Although the neural mechanisms responsible for controlling FW locomotion have been studied in considerable detail, the mechanisms controlling steps in other directions are mostly unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the distribution of spinal neuronal networks controlling FW and BW locomotion. First, we applied electrical epidural stimulation (ES) to different segments of the spinal cord from L2 to S2 to reveal zones triggering FW and BW locomotion in decerebrate cats of either sex. Second, to determine the location of spinal neurons activated during FW and BW locomotion, we used c-Fos immunostaining. We found that the neuronal networks responsible for FW locomotion were distributed broadly in the lumbosacral spinal cord and could be activated by ES of any segment from L3 to S2. By contrast, networks generating BW locomotion were activated by ES of a limited zone from the caudal part of L5 to the caudal part of L7. In the intermediate part of the gray matter within this zone, a significantly higher number of c-Fos-positive interneurons was revealed in BW-stepping cats compared with FW-stepping cats. We suggest that this region of the spinal cord contains the network that determines the BW direction of locomotion. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sequential and single steps in various directions relative to the body axis [forward (FW), backward (BW), sideways, etc.] are used during locomotion and to correct for perturbations, respectively. The mechanisms controlling step direction are unknown. In the present study, for the first time we compared the distributions of spinal neuronal networks controlling FW and BW locomotion. Using a marker to visualize active neurons, we demonstrated that in the intermediate part of the gray matter within L6 and L7 spinal segments, significantly more neurons were activated during BW locomotion than during FW locomotion. We suggest that the network determining the BW direction of stepping is located in this area.


After having defined his conception of what community psychiatry is, where it is situated in the line of evolution of modern psychiatry, the author weighs the pertinence of teaching residents knowledge pertaining to a sector in full identity crisis. The effort is worthwhile, since this crisis has permitted the community psychiatrist to better define himself namely in regard to the other health professionals, and it is therefore easier to determine what kind of knowledge should be transmitted to the resident in this particular field. A tentative teaching program is outlined. In such a program, education aspects should take precedence of training aspects, making the future psychiatrist more prepared to face eventual changes in that field. Such a program should take place in the final part of the residency course following a solid preparation in basic clinical psychiatric knowledge.


Although visual information affects auditory perception in a variety of tasks, audition is generally believed to be relatively immune from visual influence when judging tone duration. However, Schutz and Lipscomb (2007) report a musical illusion in which physical gestures influence the perceived duration of notes performed on the marimba. In order to better understand which aspects of these gestures are responsible for the illusion, we created a "schematic marimbist" consisting of either a four-point skeleton or a single moving dot. This schematic abstraction captured the essential properties of the gestures, replicating the effect under both conditions. Therefore, this illusion requires seeing only a sudden change in gesture direction - independent of the depiction of a struck object. As this finding means that it can be replicated with a minimum of visual information, it will be useful in facilitating future research aimed at uncovering the reason for this break with the widely accepted theory of 'optimal integration'.


Adverse drag reactions (ADRs) are estimated to be one of the leading causes of death. Many national and international agencies have set up databases of ADR reports for the express purpose of determining the relationship between drugs and adverse reactions that they cause. We formulate the drug‐reaction relationship problem as a continuous optimization problem and utilize C‐GRASP, a new continuous global optimization heuristic, to approximately determine the relationship between drugs and adverse reactions. Our approach is compared against others in the literature and is shown to find better solutions.


This thesis is a feasibility study, with regards to aerodynamic stability, about the possibility of constructing a suspension bridge with a main span of 3700m over the Sogne Fjord in Norway. The design wind velocity for the Sogne Bridge is 64.2 m/s. A preliminary design is conducted to find the approximate dimensions for the bridge models with different cross sections. These bridges are then modeled in Abaqus in order to find the natural frequencies, vibration modes and mass properties. The key to calculating the critical velocity of the models is to include the aerodynamic derivatives of the cross sections. A Matlab program has the aerodynamic derivatives, natural frequencies, vibration modes and mass properties as input. With this information the program is able to calculate the multimode flutter velocity of the models. Also, a response calculation is executed in order to see how the different models behave under serviceability wind velocity. This gives a better picture of which models are most applicable. The results show that to apply a slotted box girder improves the flutter velocity, and all the models with this type of cross-section have a stability limit above the design velocity. For a single box girder, the structural measure of using a mono-cable instead of the traditional two-cable bridge geometry increases the critical wind velocity to above the design velocity. All the models satisfy the serviceability response requirements.


The use of electrocatalysis in lithium–oxygen batteries is mandatory for reducing the over-potentials of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), below the levels that endanger the anodic stability of the electrolyte solutions and the carbon electrodes. The most effective catalysts for the OER are solubilized redox mediators that may be oxidized at relatively low potentials, but still capable of oxidizing Li2O2 back to molecular oxygen. Since for the effective and long-term utilization of redox mediators in lithium–oxygen cells a clear evaluation of their stability is essential, we have developed a useful methodology for that purpose. This revealed, quite surprisingly, that most commonly used redox mediators are unstable in lithium–oxygen cells, even under argon atmosphere and without being in contact with Li anodes. Using the abovementioned methodology for evaluating efficiency, we now introduce corrole-chelated metal complexes as stable redox mediators in lithium oxygen batteries. This was achieved by taking advantage of the facile methods for introducing changes in the corrole ligands and by choosing properly the central transition metal cation, two aspects that allow for adjusting the redox properties of the metal complexes for the operative voltage window. We outline further directions and believe that this work will promote optimized selection of redox mediators for lithium–oxygen batteries.


Background: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is rare and accounts for ∼1% of all invasive breast cancers. The 5-year survival rates are significantly lower than for other types of breast cancer, highlighting the significance of cancer prevention in IBC. A disproportionately higher percentage of IBC patients have triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; ER−, PR− and Her2−) than patients with non-IBC. TNBCs are thought to arise from normal breast stem cells. Our preliminary data indicates that normal breast stem cells are enriched in adjacent normal tissues of patients with TN IBC. We hypothesize that parity and breastfeeding, risk factors that influence the normal stem cell compartment in the breast, will differ between TN IBC and non-TN IBC subtypes. Methods: We identified 144 patients diagnosed with IBC in 1991–2011 at MD Anderson. Breast cancer risk factors including parity and breast-feeding were compared between patients with TN and non-TN IBC with chi square or Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: The average age at diagnosis was 54 years; 83% of patients were non-Hispanic white; and 36% were TN IBC. We found that patients with TN IBC had significantly lower frequency (p = 0.02) and duration of breastfeeding (p = 0.02) compared with non-TN IBC patients. No differences were found in the frequency of other breast cancer risk factors. Conclusion: The association between breastfeeding and TNBC indicates that stem cells that are retained in the absence of breastfeeding may be the cell of origin for TN IBC. These results highlight the importance of evaluating epidemiologic risk factors of IBC according to receptor subtype, which could lead to the identification of distinct etiologic pathways that could be targeted for prevention.


• This study investigates the impact of life events on symptom configuration in a group of 132 posthospitalized schizophrenics living in the community. Multivariate techniques were used to isolate specific dimensions of symptoms and to study the influence of life events, viewed in terms of number, the psychological control dimension, and qualitative nature, in contrast to other factors thought to determine symptoms. Life events exert their greatest influence on nonpsychotic symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and somatic concerns. Aspects of psychotic behavior such as grandiosity, delusions, and looseness of associations appear to be somewhat vulnerable to the impact of life events, particularly those events that are undesirable, social losses, and beyond individual psychological control. We discuss the findings in relation to the issue of causal effect in the study of life events and psychiatric impairment.


In this paper, we present a general framework for password-based authenticated key exchange protocols, in the common reference string model. Our protocol is actually an abstraction of the key exchange protocol of Katz et al. and is based on the recently introduced notion of smooth projective hashing by Cramer and Shoup. We gain a number of benefits from this abstraction. First, we obtain a modular protocol that can be described using just three high-level cryptographic tools. This allows a simple and intuitive understanding of its security. Second, our proof of security is significantly simpler and more modular. Third, we are able to derive analogs to the Katz et al. protocol under additional cryptographic assumptions. Specifically, in addition to the DDH assumption used by Katz et al., we obtain protocols under both the quadratic and N-residuosity assumptions. In order to achieve this, we construct new smooth projective hash functions.


Animated visual models are a reasonable means for illustrating system behavior. However, implementing animated visual languages and their editing environments is difficult. Therefore, guidelines, specification methods, and tool support are necessary. A flexible approach for specifying model states and behavior is to use graphs and graph transformations. Thereby, a graph can also represent dynamic aspects of a model, like animations, and graph transformations are triggered over time to control the behavior, like starting, modifying, and stopping animations or adding and removing elements. These concepts had already been added to Dia-Meta, a framework for generating editing environments, but they provide only low-level support for specifying and implementing animated visual languages; specifying complex dynamic languages was still a challenging task. This paper proposes the Animation Modeling Language (AML), which allows to model behavior and animations on a higher level of abstraction. AML models are then translated into low-level specifications based on graph transformations. The approach is demonstrated using a traffic simulation.


Motivated by the important archaeological application of exploring cultural heritage objects, in this paper we study the challenging problem of automatically segmenting curve structures that are very weakly stamped or carved on an object surface in the form of a highly noisy depth map. Different from most classical low-level image segmentation methods that are known to be very sensitive to the noise and occlusions, we propose a new supervised learning algorithm based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to implicitly learn and utilize more curve geometry and pattern information for addressing this challenging problem. More specifically, we first propose a Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) to estimate the skeleton of curve structures and at each skeleton pixel, a scale value is estimated to reflect the local curve width. Then we propose a dense prediction network to refine the estimated curve skeletons. Based on the estimated scale values, we finally develop an adaptive thresholding algorithm to achieve the final segmentation of curve structures. In the experiment, we validate the performance of the proposed method on a dataset of depth images scanned from unearthed pottery shards dating to the Woodland period of Southeastern North America.


Background and Objectives To explore the association between blood pressure (BP) levels after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and the clinical outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Methods A study was eligible if it enrolled patients with AIS >18 years of age with an LVO treated with either successful or unsuccessful EVT and provided either individual or mean 24-hour systolic BP values after the end of the EVT procedure. Individual patient data from all studies were analyzed with a generalized linear mixed-effects model. Results A total of 5,874 patients (mean age 69 ± 14 years; 50% women; median NIH Stroke Scale score on admission 16) from 7 published studies were included. Increasing mean systolic BP levels per 10 mm Hg during the first 24 hours after the end of the EVT were associated with a lower odds of functional improvement (unadjusted common odds ratio [OR] 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.85; adjusted common OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84–0.93) and modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 (unadjusted OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.79–0.85; adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.82–0.93) and a higher odds of all-cause mortality (unadjusted OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.24; adjusted OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06–1.23) at 3 months. Higher 24-hour mean systolic BP levels were also associated with an increased likelihood of early neurologic deterioration (unadjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07–1.21; adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.24) and a higher odds of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (unadjusted OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09–1.29; adjusted OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.38) after EVT. Discussion Increased mean systolic BP levels in the first 24 hours after EVT are independently associated with a higher odds of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, early neurologic deterioration, 3-month mortality, and worse 3-month functional outcomes.


Various uncertainties arise in the operation and management of power systems containing Renewable Energy Sources (RES) that affect the systems power quality. These uncertainties may arise due to system parameter changes or design parameter choice. In this work, the impact of uncertainties on the prediction of harmonics in a power system containing multiple Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) is investigated. The study focuses on the prediction of harmonic distortion level in multiple VSCs when some system or design parameters are only known within certain constraints. The Univariate Dimension Reduction (UDR) method was utilized in this study as an efficient predictive tool for the level of harmonic distortion of the VSCs measured at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) to the grid. Two case studies were considered and the UDR technique was also experimentally validated. The obtained results were compared with that of the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) results.


384 Background: Stage I testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) has excellent cure rates and surveillance is fully included in patient's management, particularly during the first years of follow-up. Surveillance guidelines differ between the academic societies, with different recommendations concerning clinical and imaging frequency de-escalation and long term follow-up. We evaluated surveillance practice and schedules followed by French specialists and set up a DELPHI method to obtain a consensual surveillance program with an optimal schedule for patients with localized TGCT. Methods: An online survey on surveillance practice of stage I TGCT based on clinical-cases was conducted among urologists, radiotherapists and oncologists. Results were compared to AFU, ESMO and EAU guidelines. Then a panel of experts assessed surveillance proposals following a formal consensus method (DELPHI method). Statements were drafted after analysis of the previous survey and systematic literature review, with 2 successive rounds to reach a consensus. Results: Survey and DELPHI were conducted between July 2018 and May 2019. Sixty-one (12.2%) participated to the survey (69% oncologists, 15% urologists, 16% radiotherapists). For the first 5 years of follow-up we observed 30 to 50% of adherence to AFU's guidelines, 20 to 36% of adherence to ESMO's guidelines and 6 to 45% of practices not corresponding to any of the guidelines depending on clinical situations. Only 25% of practitioners stopped surveillance after the 5th year, as recommended. No physician followed the ESMO guidelines of de-escalation chest imaging. For the Delphi study, a panel of 32 experts (78% oncologists, 16% urologists, 6% radiotherapists) was asked about 38 statements. Consensus was reached for 26 statements concerning clinico-biological surveillance modalities and end of surveillance after the 5th year of follow-up. For seminoma, abdominal ultrasound was proposed as an option to the abdominopelvic (AP) scan for the 4th year of follow-up. No consensus was reached regarding de-escalation of chest imaging. Conclusions: The survey proved that French TGCT specialists do not follow current guidelines. With DELPHI method, a consensus was obtained for frequency of clinico-biological surveillance, discontinuation of surveillance after the 5th year and stop of AP scan on the 4th year of follow-up for seminoma. Questions remains concerning type and frequency of chest imaging.


Tarney & Windley (1977) questioned the andesite model for crustal growth (Taylor & White 1966; Taylor 1967; Jakes & Taylor 1974; Taylor 1977). Much of their argument is based on rare earth element (REE) data from Archaean granulites, which they claim are representative of the lower continental crust. The most damaging comment against the andesite model is their calculation (Tarney & Windley 1977, fig. 1) of the REE pattern in the lower continental crust. Using a value for andesite (representing the bulk crust) and average sedimentary rocks (representing the upper crust)they calculated a lower crustal composition which has a strong positive Eu-anomaly and extremely low LREE (in fact there is no La or Ce!). They stated that their andesite value was taken from Nance & Taylor (1976); this is incorrect, since no andesite value is reported in that paper, nor is an andesite value reported in the only other paper by those authors (Nance & Taylor 1977). Tarney & Windley do not tabulate their REE values, but estimates can be made from their chondrite-normalized plots. Their values are compared (Table 1) with the estimates of Taylor (1977, 1979) for the bulk continental crust, based on the andesite model.The upper crustal estimate (Nance & Taylor 1976) and the correct calculation for the lower crust (assuming the upper crust is 1/3 of the whole crust) are also given in Table 1. These values are plotted in Fig. 1. In marked contrast to Tarney & Windley's calculations, the REE pattern for the lower


The aim of this study was to screen leukocyte cell surface markers to identify possible predictors for infection related to physical training. Ten healthy soldiers (mean age, 19.1; mean body mass, 77.4 kg; mean VO2 peak, 4.54 L min(-1)/58.6 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) were included. Blood samples were collected and number of infections recorded before and after a 6-day training course. White blood cell distributions and expression of surface receptors changed during training. Before training, expression of CD3 on CD8+ lymphocytes and percent CD8+CD3 lymphocytes was lower, whereas CD4/CD8 ratio was higher among subjects who failed compared to those who completed the training. A subclinical infection before the start of the military training may alter the CD4/CD8 ratio. Prediction of future infections may be possible from pre-exercise immunological status, findings useful in military settings and exercise, where sudden infections may result in severe consequences.


The results of the design and evaluation of DAVIH VIH-2 diagnosing system, an indirect Elisa for screening of HIV-2 antibodies, which uses a HIV-2 glycoprotein gp36 synthetic peptide in its solid phase, were exposed. In the system evaluation using WHO reference panels, 100% sensitivity, 99,81% specificity, 99,81% efficacy and very good concordance level (kappa = 0.978) were attained. Serum samples of 959 individuals with undetermined or negative results to the HIV-1 antibodies confirmation (DAVIH blot) were evaluated by the DAVIH VIH-2 system. Twenty four samples were reactive, six of which had confirmed HIV-2 antibodies. These results allowed recommending the introduction of this diagnostic kit in the HIV infection diagnosing algorithm in Cuba.


According to the 2000 census, over 12 million Asian Americans, almost 70 percent of them either immigrants who came to the U.S. after 1970 or their children, comprised an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population that was more regionally dispersed throughout the U.S. than ever before. (Lai and Arguelles, 2003). Despite these transitions and increasing heterogeneity, discourses about Asian American communities have focused on ethnic enclaves such as Chinatowns, Koreatowns, and Little Saigons where coethnic residents, businesses, services, institutions and organizations exist and interact in urban or suburban physical spaces of the bicoastal United States (Fong, 1994; Li, 1999; Zhou and Bankston, 1988). According to Kathleen Wong (Lau), these tangible markers tied to space are often privileged as authentic Asian American communities while those without demographic concentrations and geographically bound enclaves are "less advanced" communities; as a result, "[w]hat is not recognized in the literature is the 'localness9 of this production.' [1997:83].


In this work we estimate the fuel ion density profile in deuterium plasmas at JET, using the JET neutron camera, the neutron time-of-flight spectrometer TOFOR, and fusion reactivities modeled by the transport code TRANSP. The framework has been tested using synthetic data, which showed that the density profile could be reconstructed with an average accuracy of the order of 10 %. The method has also been applied to neutron measurements from a neutral beam heated JET discharge, which gave nd/ne ≈ 0.6 ± 0.3 in the plasma core and nd/ne ≈ 0.4 ± 0.3 towards the edge. Correction factors for detector efficiencies, neutron attenuation, and back-scattering are not yet included in the analysis; future work will aim at refining the estimated density.


The customer has become an organizational imperative, a "sovereign ruler" and orienting both organizational activities and individual subjectivities towards customer needs is therefore not merely a desirable ideal, but in many cases also an explicit norm. There are however few studies that directly address the more fundamental consequences of this customer paradigm. In this conceptual paper we address that there are potential structural conflicts between the customer-orientation/customer ideal and other, often unspoken, operational logics and argue that customer misbehavior emerges as a result of maintaining and reproducing the customer discourse. In addition we broaden the prevailing individual-centric view on misbehavior by bringing forward the structural positions held by customers and customer oriented staff.


A city's energy system processes, as well as the interactions of the energy system with other systems in a city are imperative in creating a comprehensive energy decision support system due to the interdependencies between critical segments of the system. City.Net is a sustainability-oriented decision support system that represents the energy, water, waste, transportation and building systems in a city while taking into consideration the integration and interdependencies that exist between these systems. This paper, which is focused on the integrated energy infrastructure system of a sustainable city, builds on the previous work which employs hierarchical decomposition and multi-domain formulation for the design of complex sustainable systems. The City.Net energy system encompasses the generation, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy in different forms, in several domains and at diverse scales in a city. Also, the interactions of the energy system with other aforementioned systems are incorporated in City.Net. The result is a scalable and flexible energy decision support system which can be simulated and used as a sustainability-analysis tool, encompassing environmental, social and economic sustainability.


The paper presents the Norwegian populations attitude to euthanasia and to legal abortion in 1982 1990 and 1995 and compares the responses given in 1995 with the attitudes of a representative sample of 1260 Norwegian physicians. The acceptance of legal abortion by the population seems to have remained constant while the populations attitude towards euthanasia has become more liberal. Social criteria and a potential handicapped baby were less accepted as causes for abortion in 1995 than in 1990. The physicians are more liberal towards abortion and more skeptical towards euthanasia. The physicians are more reluctant however to accept a potential handicapped offspring as a reason for abortion. (authors) (summaries in ENG NOR)


In the domain of change and information systems (IS), we have persisted in the assumption that a well-functioning IS exhibits a balance between the social and the technical structures such that this system rests in a state of stable equilibrium. When transformational change arises, the system falls into a state of disequilibrium, until it reaches a new state of equilibrium. This assumption no longer gives a full explanation of the complex dynamics in today's enterprise. In this paper, we explain the concept of unstable equilibrium that results from the continuous change that individuated individuals make in socio-technical structures. Our findings arise from a critical realist perspective used to interpret data from an e-group interview with 11 professionals working in platform-based organizations. We find that a generative mechanism of contradictory complementarity, denoted as individualization and socialization, now inhabits the IS and causes outcomes that are both individualtechnical and sociotechnical. Now change happens in the surface-structures resting in unstable equilibrium, while the deep structures remain in stable equilibrium. This equilibrium paradox in socio-technical change explains how platform-based organizations achieve change by both achieving agility from their IS while simultaneously achieving stability.


Market regulation has traditionally focused on disclosure duties — yet mounting evidence questions their effectiveness. The efficacy of nudges is similarly doubted, especially when suppliers counter their effects. Consequently, there is growing interest in mandatory regulation of the content of contracts. Previous studies have examined public opinion about nudges, but not about mandatory rules.

We explore how the formulation of mandatory rules might affect their judged desirability, focusing on the choices: (1) between negative and positive formulation; and (2) between merely establishing substantive mandatory rules, and supervising the wording of the contract as well. We also examine laypersons' general attitude toward mandatory rules.

We report the results of four studies, conducted with a representative sample of 968 U.S. adults and 795 M-Turk master workers. Contrary to our conjecture, we found that subjects generally judged wording rules as more desirable than merely substantive ones, and positive rules as more desirable than negative ones. There also appears to be strong support for pro-customer mandatory rules, even among conservative. These results arguably legitimize more, and more effective, mandatory rules. They also suggest that the relative paucity of mandatory rules in U.S. law is not due to public opposition to them, but to other reasons.


Managing restaurant capacity effectively includes making sure that the dining room is equipped with sufficient tables of the appropriate size and type to meet expected demand. Restaurateurs usually make a point of seating parties at the right-size table to maximize seat utilization, and some restaurants set tables fairly close together to make the best use of the available floor space. We examined whether providing guests at a fullservice restaurant in New York City with extra personal space improved their satisfaction and meant increased spending or longer lengths of stay. Guests seated at tables that were larger than necessary (that is, parties of two seated at four-tops) did not have significantly different perceptions of satisfaction or spending behavior from those seated at right-size tables (that is, at deuces). However, parties at closely spaced tables reported significantly reduced satisfaction, as well as lower spending per minute when compared with widely spaced tables. Patrons dining at this New York restaurant seemed uncomfortable when tables were set as close as seventeen inches apart, and were more satisfied when the distance was closer to a yard apart. These findings, which apply to the dinner period at a fine-dining restaurant, offer support for the practice of seating parties at appropriately sized tables, and suggest that restaurant operators give careful consideration to the spacing of tables in the dining room.


One of the most outstanding poets, novelists and short story writers in American literature is Sylvia Plath (1932-1963). A confessional poet whose texts are genuine in style and subject matter. Death is a dominant theme in the poetry of Sylvia Plath. She had dealt with this topic from various perspectives. Her father''s death left her dejected. Besides, her husband''s betrayal made her more forlorn and desperate. All of these events in her life caused her mental state disorder and this is clear in the poems I chose to analyze, "Daddy", "Lady Lazarus", and "Edge".
This paper examines Plath''s depiction of death in her poetry and the illustration of death related to her biography. It also aims at presenting the existence of death in her life and the absence of the fear of death in her poetry as well; which is her observation of death. Moreover, it will examine how Sylvia Plath's mental state did affect her works and how it is important for the reader to know the background of Sylvia Plath to understand her works. Hence, the paper will start with introducing her style of writing. Then, the paper analyzes the selected poems accordingly. For this purpose, the paper will give a deep dive into the selected poems of the poet's posthumously poem collection book "Ariel", and conclude the overall picture of each poem for better understanding the reasons behind the poet's behaviors. Finally, the paper concludes the findings of the study.


Europe's low-carbon energy policy favors a greater use of fuel cells and technologies based on hydrogen used as a fuel. Hydrogen delivered at the hydrogen refueling station must be compliant with requirements stated in different standards. Currently, the quality control process is performed by offline analysis of the hydrogen fuel. It is, however, beneficial to continuously monitor at least some of the contaminants onsite using chemical sensors. For hydrogen quality control with regard to contaminants, high sensitivity, integration parameters, and low cost are the most important requirements. In this study, we have reviewed the existing sensor technologies to detect contaminants in hydrogen, then discussed the implementation of sensors at a hydrogen refueling stations, described the state-of-art in protocols to perform assessment of these sensor technologies, and, finally, identified the gaps and needs in these areas. It was clear that sensors are not yet commercially available for all gaseous contaminants mentioned in ISO14687:2019. The development of standardized testing protocols is required to go hand in hand with the development of chemical sensors for this application following a similar approach to the one undertaken for air sensors.


In a wireless, multi-hop sensor network, choosing transmission power levels has an important impact on energy efficiency and network lifetime. Two algorithms for dynamically adjusting transmission power level on a per-node basis are proposed here. Network lifetime, convergence speed as well as resulting network connectivity are used as figures of merit for these two algorithms. They have been evaluated in an indoor sensor environment. The network lifetime metrics of these two local algorithms are also benchmarked against power control algorithms using global information. We show that these local algorithms outperform fixed power level assignment and that the lifetime achieved by them is usually within a factor of two of globally computed solution while being scalable.


The effect of multiple scattering (long-range, small-angle elastic Coulomb collisions) on the radiation field associated with transition radiation from a nonstationary plasmalike medium is addressed with the help of a simple model. The model assumes a relativistic charged particle traversing a single medium that is rapidly and abruptly changing its electromagnetic properties. An averaged diffusion tensor is calculated relativistically to effectively approximate a diminished formation zone in the medium, the effect of which on the differential radiation intensity and angular distribution of transition radiation is studied. It is shown here that multiple scattering is more than a fine-tuning effect, in that it has a marked enhancement effect on the differential yield over a wide and significant frequency range of the emitted photons as well as an appreciable shifting and slowing down of the rapid fall of the maximum intensity angular location over an equally significant angular range. It is suggested that one study the effect in an implosion-explosion process of a laser-prepared medium. Implications to transition radiation from a periodic medium and the more general process of transition scattering in nonlinear media are briefly discussed.


What are the gendered aspects of Swedish return migration? About 15.000 – 20.000 Swedes emigrate every year. Presently, up to 550 000 Swedes live abroad and most Swedes chose to return to Sweden after having lived a period abroad.This makes Swedes the largest immigrant group to Sweden. This paper investigates re-constructions of national identity and gender among Swedish migrant women returning to Sweden after living abroad. Drawing from participant observations and individual interviews with women who can be described as an economically privileged group, gendered and class hierarchies in contemporary migration are discussed.The aim of this paper is to develop an intersectional understanding of Swedish women's narratives of return migration. What kinds of connections are made between return migration and notions of gender and Swedishness? How do Swedish women experience re-integratation, in relation to norms and values of gender equality in the Swedish society?The paper explores the gendered dimensions of return migration and develops theoretical discussions on belonging. In order to understand these questions, I argue that the analysis of women's narratives about return migration can be developed using feminist and postcolonial theory in general and the concept of belonging in particular.This involves linking the individual narratives with larger societal processes; the lived experiences contextualized through structural processes are in focus.


ABSTRACT Poppenga, S.K. and Worstell, B.B., 2016. Hydrologic connectivity: Quantitative assessments of hydrologic-enforced drainage structures in an elevation model. In: Brock, J.C.; Gesch, D.B.; Parrish, C.E.; Rogers, J.N., and Wright, C.W. (eds.), Advances in Topobathymetric Mapping, Models, and Applications. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 76, pp. 90–106. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Elevation data derived from light detection and ranging present challenges for hydrologic modeling as the elevation surface includes bridge decks and elevated road features overlaying culvert drainage structures. In reality, water is carried through these structures; however, in the elevation surface these features impede modeled overland surface flow. Thus, a hydrologically-enforced elevation surface is needed for hydrodynamic modeling. In the Delaware River Basin, hydrologic-enforcement techniques were used to modify elevations to simulate how constructed drainage structures allow overland surface flow. By calculating residuals between unfilled and filled elevation surfaces, artificially pooled depressions that formed upstream of constructed drainage structure features were defined, and elevation values were adjusted by generating transects at the location of the drainage structures. An assessment of each hydrologically-enforced drainage structure was conducted using field-surveyed culvert and bridge coordinates obtained from numerous public agencies, but it was discovered the disparate drainage structure datasets were not comprehensive enough to assess all remotely located depressions in need of hydrologic-enforcement. Alternatively, orthoimagery was interpreted to define drainage structures near each depression, and these locations were used as reference points for a quantitative hydrologic-enforcement assessment. The orthoimagery-interpreted reference points resulted in a larger corresponding sample size than the assessment between hydrologic-enforced transects and field-surveyed data. This assessment demonstrates the viability of rules-based hydrologic-enforcement that is needed to achieve hydrologic connectivity, which is valuable for hydrodynamic models in sensitive coastal regions. Hydrologic-enforced elevation data are also essential for merging with topographic/bathymetric elevation data that extend over vulnerable urbanized areas and dynamic coastal regions.


In this paper, we perform an analytical comparison of two well-known detectors-the matched filter detector (MFD) and the orthogonal subspace projection (OSP) detector for the subpixel target detection in hyperspectral images under the assumption of the structured model. The OSP detector (equivalent to the least squares estimator) is a popular detector utilizing background signature information. On the other hand, the MFD is intended for a model without background information, and it is often used for its simplicity. The OSP detector seems to be more reliable because it removes the interference of background signatures. However, it has been demonstrated in the literature that sometimes the MFD can be more powerful. In this paper, we show analytical results explaining the relationship between the two detectors beyond the anecdotal evidence from specific hyperspectral images or simulations. We also give some guidelines on when the MFD may be more beneficial than the OSP, and when the OSP is better because of being more robust against a wide range of conditions.


Three different spectral patterns, including the MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification), the LP (Linear Prediction) and the S-LP (Smooth Linear Prediction) methods using the unique recursion process of the multistage nested Wiener filter (MSNWF) for spectral analysis are described. These different spectral patterns can be provided simultaneously. Taking into account the computational advantages and different characteristics of the methods, a new scheme for spectral analysis is proposed, which is able to be adapted to either the continuous or the discrete spectrum cases.


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory im- pairment and cognitive deficits. A major component of AD pathology is the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are comprised of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides derived from the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) by β- and γ-secretases. In a subset of patients, inheritance of mutations in the AβPP gene is responsible for altering Aβ production, leading to early onset disease. Interestingly, many of these familial muta- tions lie within the transmembrane domain of the protein near the GxxxG and GxxxA dimerization motifs that are important for transmembrane interactions. As AβPP dimerization has been linked to changes in Aβ production, it is of interest to know whether familial AβPP mutations affect full-length APP dimerization. Using bimolecular fluores - cence complementation (BiFC), blue native gel electrophoresis, and live cell chemical cross-linking, we found that familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) mutations do not affect full-length AβPP dimerization in transfected HEK293 and COS7 cells. It follows that changes in AβPP dimerization are not necessary for altered Aβ production, and in FAD mutations, changes in Aβ levels are more likely a result of alternative proteolytic processing.


— In this study we propose that attachment categorizes human knowledge and perception from "the cradle to the grave." It is an emotional bond that includes reinstating of concern, contentment and bliss. This paper reveals that any individual with the secure attachment style is coupled with better correlation of dedication, conviction, and satisfaction than were the insecure, avoidant or ambivalent style. Altering one's attachment style does not mean the person becomes a deadpan or is oblivious to life and its twist and turns and nuances. Much to the contrary this is being extremely sensitive and sensible and able to digest the idiosyncrasies of life as they come and keep the inner calm intact so that the tranquillity of mind and heart within remains unperturbed. It doesn't always mean that you cover your face with a veil and ignore life's unpleasant situations. It simply means that you draw near unpleasantness in a more constructive and fruitful way. This advocates that the best is going to happen, not the worst.


Simulations predict that galaxies grow primarily through the accretion of gas that has not gone through an accretion shock near the virial radius and that this cold gas flows towards the central galaxy along dense filaments and streams. There is, however, little observational evidence for the existence of these cold flows. We use a large, cosmological, hydrodynamical simulation that has been post‐processed with radiative transfer to study the contribution of cold flows to the observed z= 3 column density distribution of neutral hydrogen, which our simulation reproduces. We find that nearly all of the H I absorption arises in gas that has remained colder than 105.5 K, at least while it was extragalactic. In addition, the majority of the H I is falling rapidly towards a nearby galaxy, with non‐negligible contributions from outflowing and static gas. Above a column density of Graphic cm−2, most of the absorbers reside inside haloes, but the interstellar medium only dominates for Graphic cm−2. Haloes with total mass below 1010 M⊙ dominate the absorption for Graphic cm−2, but the average halo mass increases sharply for higher column densities. Although very little of the H I in absorbers with Graphic cm−2 resides inside galaxies, systems with Graphic cm−2 are closely related to star formation: most of their H I either will become part of the interstellar medium before z= 2 or has been ejected from a galaxy at z > 3. Cold accretion flows are critical for the success of our simulation in reproducing the observed rate of incidence of damped Lyman‐α and particularly that of Lyman limit systems. We therefore conclude that cold accretion flows exist and have already been detected in the form of high column density H I absorbers.


There are several techniques for automatic music visualization, which are included with virtually any media player. The basic ingredient of those techniques is spectral analysis of the sound, used to automatically generate parameters for procedural image generation. However, only a few music visualizations rely on 3d models. This paper proposes to use spectral mesh processing techniques, namely manifold harmonics, to produce 3d music visualization. The images are generated from 3d models by deforming an initial shape, mapping the sound frequencies to the mesh harmonics. A concise representation of such frequency mapping is proposed to permit for an animated gallery interface with genetic reproduction. Such galleries allow the user to quickly navigate between visual effects. Rendering such animated galleries in real-time is a challenging task, since it requires computing and rendering the deformed shapes at a very high rate. This paper introduces a direct GPU implementation of manifold harmonics filters, which allows to display animated gallery.


Background. A wide range of treatments have been used to improve upper arm motor performances in children with congenital hemiplegia. Recent findings are suggesting that virtual reality based intervention could be a promising tool also in pediatric rehabilitation. Methods. Six patients with congenital hemiplegia (age: 4–16 years) were recruited among those treated in the Child Neuropsychiatry and Rehabilitation Unit of the IRCCS "Santa Maria Nascente" (Milan, Italy), for a preliminary investigation about using nonimmersive virtual reality for upper limb rehabilitation. Ten sessions using VRRS system (Khymeia, Padova, Italy) were weekly administered as a part of the rehabilitative treatment. Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Limb Movement, Ashworth Scale, and Arm's PROM were selected as main outcome measures. At the end of treatment, participants filled in an ad hoc satisfaction questionnaire. Results. All subjects completed the proposed treatment, and they also gave a positive judgment regarding this rehabilitative method. Melbourne score increased in all patients. Conclusion. Our findings seem to support the evidence that VR treatment could be a promising and engaging tool for pediatric rehabilitation. However, the limited size of the population and the small number of sessions require further investigations and RCTs to confirm our positive results.


Labeled training data is an essential part of any supervised machine learning framework. In practice, there is a trade-off between the quality of a label and its cost. In this paper, we consider a problem of learning to rank on a large-scale dataset with low-quality relevance labels aiming at maximizing the quality of a trained ranker on a small validation dataset with high-quality ground truth relevance labels. Motivated by the classical Gauss-Markov theorem for the linear regression problem, we formulate the problems of (1) reweighting training instances and (2) remapping learning targets. We propose meta-gradient decision tree learning framework for optimizing weight and target functions by applying gradient-based hyperparameter optimization. Experiments on a large-scale real-world dataset demonstrate that we can significantly improve state-of-the-art machine-learning algorithms by incorporating our framework.


The Bartholin's glands (or greater vestibular glands) are important organs of the female reproductive system. Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin Secundus first described them in 1677. Their primary function is the production of a mucoid secretion that aids in vaginal and vulvar lubrication. The glands are located in the vulvar vestibule, at either side of the external orifice of the vagina. They are homologous to the bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands in males.Bartholin gland pathology may present as an asymptomatic mass, causing only vulvar asymmetry. Symptomatic masses may exhibit severe tenderness, surrounding erythema, and edema. Cysts and abscesses often form in women of reproductive age and do not require treatment. Rarely, mass biopsy and excision may be necessary if malignancy is suspected.


The supervision process of community care services offered to individuals suffering from chronic illnesses, beyond an exchange of information between professionals in different power relations should be conducted on a formal basis, to be conducted under a partnership between the multidisciplinary team intervention, the intake supervisor and community where the intervention takes place, in accordance with the requirements of the domain in which the supervision is realized, and on a specific ethic base which has as central the value of social and personal autonomy of social service recipients of community-based rehabilitation. Supervision, as a method of support for professionals, aims to improve workplace performance by removing stress that can occur and affect work performance. The supervisor support and increase the supervisee's motivation, developing a performance work environment, following the highest professional standards and ethics of intervention. In this paper we propose to evaluate a series of supervisory practices, for the ethic point of view, and also relating them to value self-respect and strengthening the client's autonomy, and specific consent from this group, and it particularities in the social services.


Abstract Collaboration is a specific process in the construction of portfolios. In the case of electronic portfolios, Web 2.0 tools make collaboration a key process. The process known as networking refers to the online connection and collaboration with others, which the social web contributes to the literature of electronic portfolios. This research describes and analyses the pilot implementation of an ePortfolio in the Early Childhood degree programme at the Ibiza Campus of the University of the Balearic Islands. The paper presents a qualitative research study which aims to understand collaborative students' activity from multiple points of view. In view of this, the data collection techniques used are diverse: analysis of work done by students, Likert scale and group discussion. Atlas.ti software has been used to obtain a qualitative analysis of the students' discourse. In general, the results show positive attitudes, with a gradual increase noticed in the students' use of the tools and, finally, with collaboration being expressed in peer work, especially in relation to technology. The analysis carried out enables us to observe tensions between open tools, collaboration and assessment. The research has important implications for practice as it allows us to deduce how to improve the collaboration process in ePortfolios thanks to the introduction of Web 2.0 tools.


2 Abstract: Routes in mobile ad hoc networks can be disconnected due to the movement of nodes. By this issue the transmission of data is not secure and the adversarial nodes can easily attack the other nodes. These adversarial nodes affect the performance in networks and so, it is more important to identify the neighbor node in mobile ad hoc networks. To secure data and to minimize adversary attacks, the mobile node is required to learn the discovery and neighbor's position which is more challenging in mobile ad hoc networks. In this paper, the fully distributed Enhanced NPV (ENPV) scheme is proposed and it is robust against colluding adversaries. This ENPV protocol can prevent maximum number of adversaries attack.


Given a learning task where the data is distributed among several parties, communication is one of the fundamental resources which the parties would like to minimize. We present a distributed boosting algorithm which is resilient to a limited amount of noise. Our algorithm is similar to classical boosting algorithms, although it is equipped with a new component, inspired by Impagliazzo's hard-core lemma (Impagliazzo, 1995), adding a robustness quality to the algorithm. We also complement this result by showing that resilience to any asymptotically larger noise is not achievable by a communication-efficient algorithm.


Abstract Globalization is rapidly changing the landscape of law practice in China, especially its corporate legal sector. This article reports on the preliminary findings of the China research of the Globalization, Lawyers, and Emerging Economies (GLEE) Project—a comparative study that examines how globalization is reshaping the market for legal services in important emerging economies and how these developments are contributing to the transformation of the political economy in these countries and beyond. Adopting an ecological approach, which examines how different segments of the legal system interact with one another in complex ways, this article maps the corporate core, international linkages, and domestic contexts of China's globalizing corporate legal sector and discusses its impact on lawyers and society.


Marine Synechococcus is a globally significant genus of cyanobacteria that is comprised of multiple genetic lineages or clades. These clades are thought to represent ecologically distinct units, or ecotypes. Because multiple clades often co-occur together in the oceans, Synechococcus are ideal microbes to explore how closely related bacterial taxa within the same functional guild of organisms co-exist and partition marine habitats. Here we sequenced multiple gene loci from cultured strains to confirm the congruency of clade classifications between the 16S–23S rDNA internally transcribed spacer (ITS), 16S rDNA, narB, ntcA, and rpoC1 loci commonly used in Synechococcus diversity studies. We designed quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays that target the ITS for 10 Synechococcus clades, including four clades, XV, XVI, CRD1, and CRD2, not covered by previous assays employing other loci. Our new qPCR assays are very sensitive and specific, detecting down to tens of cells per ml. Application of these qPCR assays to field samples from the northwest Atlantic showed clear shifts in Synechococcus community composition across a coastal to open-ocean transect. Consistent with previous studies, clades I and IV dominated cold, coastal Synechococcus communities. Clades II and X were abundant at the two warmer, off-shore stations, and at all stations multiple Synechococcus clades co-occurred. qPCR assays developed here provide valuable tools to further explore the dynamics of microbial community structure and the mechanisms of co-existence.


Four novel organic dyes including three based on dibenzosilole (YS01–03) and one based on fluorene (YS04) were synthesized, and their photophysical properties and dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) performances were characterized. The silicon-containing dibenzosilole-based dyes (YS01–03) were superior to the carbon analogue fluorene-based dye YS04 in incident-photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE), and total solar-to-electric conversion efficiency (η), with YS03, which has the bulkiest and most branched electron donor group, achieving the highest η of 5.07% compared to 2.88% of YS04. To better understand how silicon influences the excited state oxidation potentials (S+/*) and absorption maxima (λmax), the equilibrium molecular geometries of dyes YS01–04 were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) utilizing B3LYP energy functional and DGDZVP basis set. It was shown that the torsion angles (θ1 and θ2) across the biphenyl linkages of dyes containing silicon (YS01–03) were less twisted than that of the silicon-free dye (YS04), which enhanced the π–π* overlap, and that translated into photocurrent enhancements in the silicon-containing dyes YS01–03. Moreover, the vertical electronic excitations and S+/* of dyes YS01–04 were studied using different long-range corrected time-dependent DFT methods, including CAM-B3LYP, LC-BLYP, WB97XD, and LC-wPBE at the basis set level DGDZVP. Excellent agreement between the calculated, using CAM-B3LYP/DGDZVP, and experimental results was found.


My enquiry focuses on how a drawing, when made in response to the outside environment, might be conditioned by that environment, and in turn how that environment might be influenced by that drawing. Examination of texts by, among others, Bachelard, Merleau-Ponty and Baudelaire have contributed towards understanding ideas about humankind's physical memory of landscape, phenomenological experience in relation to the outside space, and ideas concerning the interaction between the practitioner and the outside space.
Four key issues related to drawing are explored in this research (each is the subject of a chapter in the thesis). Firstly, the practitioner's stance in the process of drawing is examined, in particular the practitioner's gesture, which mimics the form of the subject, and performs the subject into being. The practitioner's position is addressed in relation to how the gaze of the other fashions that position into a performance. Secondly, 'movement' is identified as a crucial material component of the process of performance drawing. Movement's capacity to energise the work, stimulate engagement with the subject, and promote the continual development of ideas is also investigated. Thirdly, a number of interpretations of the outside environment established by individuals who work in different professions are examined. These different readings of place identify 'signs' as conditioning the character of place, and as being read by passers-by as directions through place, thereby revealing an interaction between place and humankind. Fourthly, while exploring how to performance draw in direct response to place, the methodology is developed through three stages. The traditional mark-making onto paper was found to keep a distance between the practitioner (observer) and the subject (the environment). The mark-making transferred onto the outside environment was found to retain a distance, held by the tool, between the subject and practitioner. And the practitioner by using her body and voice was found to bridge the space between subject and self. The drawing with sound methodology was found to map, signal, and measure place in direct relation to practitioner, while also revealing an interactive conditioning between place and practitioner, through sonic reflection and resonance. Critical analysis and documentation of findings concerning the practical work are interspersed throughout the written text, and a DVD of audiovisual documentation of practical works is also included as an attachment to the written thesis.


The Norwegian University of Science and Technology has an objective to be internationally outstanding. One of the underlying initiatives of this objective is to increase the number of students that go on a study abroador student exchange program. This thesis introduces a prototype created to improve the motivation for students to apply for these programs by recommending courses and universities, and simplifying the course approval process for students. The prototype, named Utsida, uses case-based reasoning and the experience reports of previous exchange students to give the recommendations. The Design and Creation research strategy was used to develop and evaluate the two parts of Utsida: a web application part for user interaction and data storage, and a case-based reasoning recommender system part that produces the recommendations. Two methods were used to evaluate the Utsida prototype. The first method was a user study were students at NTNU were able to test Utsida and answer an accompanying questionnaire. The second method tested the case-based reasoning recommender system part in an offline experiment with simulated user queries. The user study showed that Utsida has a very positive effect on students' motivation to apply for a study abroador student exchange program. Furthermore, the majority of students also received relevant recommendations for both universities and courses. Furthermore, the significant results of the offline experiment showed a high relevancy on the implemented recommender and supported the results of the user study.


Introduction: Traditionally, the African extended family gave psychosocial support to all members, which cushioned any illness effects including depression. Recent changes in the African family, notably urbanization and market economies, have changed that structure. Changes, especially roles of the family and its relationship to life events and depression, have not received much research attention. Aim: To compare depressed and non-depressed patients in terms of their demographics, family structure, life events and depression. Methods: We compared quantitative data from 85 DSM-IV depressed patients that sought care at three Primary Health Care (PHC) centres with 170 unmatched non-depressed patients. To each group, we administered three questionnaires covering socio-demographics, family structure and an adapted Interview For Recent Life Events (IRLE). Results: Of the depressed patients, over 70% were females giving a M:F ratio of 2.3:1; 71.8% were aged < 39 years and 50.6% were married; the single were 14.1% and 73.9% belonged to male- headed households. Depressed patients significantly differed from the non-depressed in having less post- primary education (p=0.02), fewer singles (0.04), fewer had regular incomes (p=0.01), more were single parents (p=0.02) and separated (p=0.01). Family structure in the two groups never significantly differed. For life events, depressed patients had more deaths of close family members and poor harvests (p=0.003), deaths of children and funeral rites (p=0.014) and sexual health problems (p=0.002). Positive exciting events were more common among non-depressed patients from extended families (p=0.047) while saddening and bereavement events were more common among depressed patients from extended families. Sexual problems were more common among depressed patients and from nuclear families (p= 0.001 & 0.006 respectively). Being a regular income earner was protective against depression (OR=0.45 (95% CI: 0.23-0.85)). Conclusion: Depressed patients were often single, separated and had children signifying family break ups. They had less income, lower education and had experienced more negative life events, highlighting the weakened family ties in times of modern adversities. This calls for training of more mental health workers and informal helpers for vigorous family therapy interventions in modern Africa, in the face of the weakening extended family.


The thermal history of a weld joint produced by gas tungsten arc welding process (TIG) is analyzed using two dimensional finite volume method . One of the fundamental problems in the analysis of heat flow during welding consists in defining welding heat source model. In our analysis the heat source is approximated by the Gaussian distribution for the heat flux delivered by the welding arc. Temperature-dependent thermal properties and convective and radiative surface thermal conditions are considered. Computations are carried out for butt welding of two thin plates of carbon steel and austenitic stainless steel. To assess the accuracy of the model, the computed sizes of the heat affected zone and melt pool zone are compared with available experimentally measured values. The results indicate good agreement.


A new analytical solution is presented for spring-in of curved thermoset matrix composites taking into account the low shear stiffness of the material in the rubbery state before it is fully cured. It is shown that shear-lag through the thickness can have a significant effect in reducing spring-in arising from thermal stresses and chemical shrinkage between gelation and vitrification. Results are presented in a nondimensional form that shows the influences of subtended angle, through-thickness shrinkage, the ratio of curved arc length to part thickness, and the ratio of in-plane modulus to rubbery interlaminar shear modulus, providing greater physical insight into the spring-in mechanism. The analysis predicts a significant effect of thickness on spring-in angle. This is verified by experimental measurements on cross-ply carbon-epoxy C-sections cured on a carbon fiber tool, confirming the validity of the new solution.


Abstract We present a method to map the spectral and spatial distributions of radioactive sources using a limited number of detectors. Locating and identifying radioactive materials is important for border monitoring, in accounting for special nuclear material in processing facilities, and in cleanup operations following a radioactive material spill. Most methods to analyze these types of problems make restrictive assumptions about the distribution of the source. In contrast, the source mapping method presented here allows an arbitrary three-dimensional distribution in space and a gamma peak distribution in energy. To apply the method, the problem is cast as an inverse problem where the system's geometry and material composition are known and fixed, while the radiation source distribution is sought. A probabilistic Bayesian approach is used to solve the resulting inverse problem since the system of equations is ill-posed. The posterior is maximized with a Newton optimization method. The probabilistic approach also provides estimates of the confidence in the final source map prediction. A set of adjoint, discrete ordinates flux solutions, obtained in this work by the Denovo code, is required to efficiently compute detector responses from a candidate source distribution. These adjoint fluxes form the linear mapping from the state space to the response space. The test of the method's success is simultaneously locating a set of 137Cs and 60Co gamma sources in a room. This test problem is solved using experimental measurements that we collected for this purpose. Because of the weak sources available for use in the experiment, some of the expected photopeaks were not distinguishable from the Compton continuum. However, by supplanting 14 flawed measurements (out of a total of 69) with synthetic responses computed by MCNP, the proof-of-principle source mapping was successful. The locations of the sources were predicted within 25 cm for two of the sources and 90 cm for the third, in a room with an ˜4-× 4-m floor plan. The predicted source intensities were within a factor of ten of their true value.


Intracellular glutamate binding within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is thought to be necessary for plasma membrane expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Here we determined the importance of glutamate binding to folding and assembly of soluble ligand-binding domains (LBDs), as well as full-length receptors, by comparing the secretion of a soluble GluR6-S1S2 protein versus the plasma membrane localization of GluR6 kainate receptors following mutagenesis of the LBD. The mutations were designed to either eliminate glutamate binding, thereby trapping the bilobate LBD in an "open" conformation, or "lock" the LBD in a closed conformation with an engineered interdomain disulfide bridge. Analysis of plasma membrane localization, medium secretion of soluble LBD proteins, and measures of folding efficiency suggested that loss of glutamate binding affinity significantly impacted subunit protein folding and assembly. In contrast, receptors with conformationally restricted LBDs also exhibited decreased PM expression and altered oligomeric receptor assembly but did not exhibit any deficits in subunit folding. Secretion of the closed LBD protein was enhanced compared with wild-type GluR6-S1S2. Our results suggest that glutamate acts as a chaperone molecule for appropriate folding of nascent receptors and that relaxation of LBDs from fully closed states during oligomerization represents a critical transition that necessarily engages other determinants within receptor dimers. Glutamate receptor LBDs therefore must access multiple conformations for efficient biogenesis.


Capital market provides the necessary lubricant that keeps turning the wheel of the economy. It does not only provide the funds required for investment but also efficiently allocates these funds to projects of best returns to investors. This study empirically examined the responsiveness of capital market on productivity (Output) of manufacturing firms in Nigeria (1990 – 2016). Specifically, the study examined the impact of Market capitalization, Total listed equities and All Share Index on the productivity (Output) of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Annual time series data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin, 2016 edition was utilized. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design and employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bound test approach. The findings revealed that capital market indices of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (proxy by MCAP, TLE, and ASI) have long-run significant influence on the productivity of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that there is need to restore confidence to the market by regulatory authorities through ensuring transparency and fair trading transaction and dealings in the stock exchange which in turn will help to improve economic growth in Nigeria; also that the private sector should be encouraged to invest in capital market to boost productivity (Output) and improve the growth of Nigerian economy.


This paper conceptualizes how mLearning methodology can be used to provide high quality education for those who are unable to be present regularly in educational institution due to various reasons. The innovative approach to mLearning methodology proposed here is unique because this method has incorporated everything that a student will expect from an educational institution about his education and also what a teacher expects from his students. In addition, this method also has integrated all the elements that any educational institution provides for its community. Therefore, the mLearning method proposed here is different to all other mLearning versions available at present in the world since this method satisfies the needs of all the communities that are engaged in an educational institution. It can also be treated as a hybrid system which incorporates not only the available technologies but also all other social activities related to any educational institution.


The quinazoline couterpart of folic acid (5,8-deazafolic acid) as well as its 10-methyl analogue has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of thymidylate synthetase from several different sources. This paper describes the synthesis of modifications in which the nitrogen atom at position 10 is replaced by sulfur, oxygen, or methylene affording 10-thia-5,8-deazafolic acid, 10-oxa-5,8-deazafolic acid, and 5,8,10-deazafolic acid, respectively. In preliminary testing, each of the target compounds displayed marginal activity against L1210 leukemia in mice.


An approach to coordination of cooperating concurrent processes, each capable of error direction and recovery, is presented. Error detection, rollback, and retry in a process are specified by a well-structured language construct called recovery block. Recovery points of processes must be properly coordinated to prevent a disastrous avalanche of process rollbacks. The approach relies on an intelligent processor system (that runs processes) capable of establishing and discarding the recovery points of interacting processes in a well coordinated manner such that a process never makes two consecutive rollbacks without making a retry between the two, and every process rollback becomes a minimum-distance rollback. Following a discussion of the underlying philosophy of the author's approach, basic rules of reducing storage and time overhead in such a processor system are discussed. Examples are drawn from the systems in which processes communicate through monitors. >


We present the design and construction of a new compact room temperature predictable quantum efficient detector (PQED). It consists of two custom-made induced-junction photodiodes mounted in a wedge trap configuration and a window aligned at Brewster's angle for high transmission of p polarized light. The window can also be removed, in which case a dry nitrogen flow system is utilized to prevent dust contamination of the photodiodes. Measurements of individual detectors at the wavelength of 488 nm indicate that reflectance and spectral responsivity are consistent within 4 ppm and 13 ppm peak-to-peak variation, respectively, and agree with the predicted values. The spatial non-uniformity of the responsivity of the PQED is an order of magnitude lower than that of single photodiodes. The internal quantum efficiency of the photodiodes is concluded to be spatially uniform within 50 ppm. These measurement results—together with the responsivity predictable by fundamental laws of physics—provide evidence that the room temperature PQED may replace the cryogenic radiometer as a primary standard of optical power in the visible wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm.


A) The Midline Cleft Lip Syndrome primarily involves the lower face with hypertelorism and clefting of the upper lip, with or without clefting of the nose (figures 1 and 2) 21 •22 • This syndrome is associated with sphenoidal, sphenoethmoidal, and ethmoidal encephaloceles, with callosal agenesis (rarely lipoma), and with optic nerve dysplasias such as optic pits, colobomata, megalopapilla, persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous with hyaloid artery, and morning glory syndrome.


This study presents an experimental approach to measure the density distribution of expanded bed adsorption (EBA) matrices. We report on the use of a series of solutions of caesium trifluoroacetate (CsTFA) of varying density spun in a laboratory centrifuge so as to separate representative matrix samples on the basis of bead density. Mass data was used to plot a decumulative density distribution for the matrix. By performing laser light scattering-based measurements on the same samples of matrix the variation in particle size with density was determined. Particle settling velocity distributions were then calculated using these data and compared with a settling velocity distribution calculated on the basis of an assumed constant bead density. The study demonstrates a reliable and simple method for the characterisation of matrix density distribution. For the case of the Streamline matrices tested the particle size distribution is constant with varying bead density. Bead densities varied from 1.5 to 2.1 g/cm3 in the CsTFA solutions. These were then adjusted using bead porosity to give a density range of 1.11-1.33 g/cm3 in aqueous buffer (assumed 1.0 g/cm3) The differences in resultant settling velocity distributions when based upon measured density distribution than when based upon an assumed mean density value were shown to be insignificant. This result confirms experimentally that an assumption of a single constant mean density for EBA particles is acceptable for hydrodynamic modelling and performance prediction purposes.


A range-Doppler image is corrupted when each pulse in the corresponding range-time array contains a single time-dependent phase error. A previously devised algorithm, the rank one phase estimation (ROPE) technique developed by F. Dyson, et al. (1992), estimates the phase errors, which are then removed so that range-Doppler imaging can proceed in the usual manner. The iterative algorithm works homogeneously across the two-dimensional range-time array (no bright scatterers are necessary for focusing). The estimation technique is model based, but image recovery is successful for many images that do not fit the model. Extensions of both theory and application of the previously devised algorithm are presented. Theoretical insights pertaining to convergence, initialization, optimality, and recovery for images that do not fit the model are presented. Several examples, drawn from simulations, postmission corrupted field data, and field data that are intrinsically corrupted, are also contained herein.


ABSTRACT A nearly complete skeleton of an erycine boid is described from the Ypresian-Lutetian (early-middle Eocene) site of Messel, Germany, for which we propose the name Rageryx schmidi n. gen., n. sp. The animal had a total length of c. 52 cm, with c. 258 vertebrae. In skull proportions it is similar to ungaliophiine boids, especially Ungaliophis, and to Tropidophis. The proportions and distinctive accessory processes of the distal caudal vertebrae that are common to all living erycine boids are present in the specimen, although the processes are not as elaborate as in many extant species. The premaxilla was not protruded to form a wedge-shaped snout, and the nasofrontal joint does not appear to show any special buttressing, unlike in many burrowing snake species. Furthermore, the inner ear lacks adaptations to an actively burrowing mode of life. We conclude that the animal, while it was probably secretive, was not fossorial. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference place Rageryx schmidi n. gen., n. sp. unambiguously on the stem of the North American clade (Lichanura + Charina). If this relationship is accurate, it provides further support for a common Euro-American squamate fauna in the early Eocene. The majority of known Messel snake taxa are small-bodied with a small gape, suggesting that such forms may have played a greater role in the early evolutionary radiation of Booidea than their present diversity would suggest.


DPR, a fragment peptide of enterostatin (VPDPR) having hypocholesterolemic activity, was introduced into the three homologous sites, EPR, DYR, and DPI, in the soybean β-conglycinin α′ subunit by site-directed mutagenesis. The modified β-conglycinin was expressed in Escherichia coli and recovered in the soluble fraction. After purification on ion-exchange HPLC, the modified β-conglycinin was digested by trypsin to release integrated DPR. The yield of DPR from 1 mole of the modified β-conglycinin was 1.2 mole.


In the area of mechanics and electronics, the behaviors of mechanical systems under periodic loadings have been examined by many researchers. Vertical conveyors are effective examples observing various kinds of parameters of this problem. In this study, primary, subharmonic, and superharmonic re- sponses have been investigated with multiple scales along with numerical methods for vertical conveyors. The change in the parameters of motion, stability con- dition, and jump phenomena has been shown graphi- cally by Mathematica software for comparing the re- sults. Both analytical and numerical results obtained had good agreement.


In this paper, we studied the influence of the silver nanoparticles size on the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS in Ag(PEDOT:PSS) films. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized in presence of PEDOT:PSS by varying the molar ratio between AgNO3 and the reducing agent (NaBH4). Both the particle size determined by TEM and the plasmon band obtained by UV-Vis spectroscopy were found to be strongly dependent on the reducing agent concentration. The electrical conductivity increases inversely with the concentration of reducing agent from 5.24 x 10-4 up to 1.63 S/cm; three orders of magnitude higher than pristine PEDOT:PSS.