Particulate nitrate photolysis can produce oxidants (i.e., OH, NO2, and NO2-/HNO2) in aqueous droplets and may play a potential role in increased atmospheric oxidative capacity. Our earlier works have reported on the SO2 oxidation promoted by nitrate photolysis to produce sulfate. Here, we used glyoxal as a model precursor to examine the role of particulate nitrate photolysis in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from particle-phase oxidation of glyoxal by OH radicals. Particles containing sodium nitrate and glyoxal were irradiated at 300 nm. Interestingly, typical oxidation products of oxalic acid, glyoxylic acid, and higher-molecular-weight products reported in the literature were not found in the photooxidation process of glyoxal during nitrate photolysis in the particle phase. Instead, formic acid/formate production was found as the main oxidation product. At glyoxal concentration higher than 3 M, we found that the formic acid/formate production rate increases significantly with increasing glyoxal concentration. Such results suggest that oxidation of glyoxal at high concentrations by OH radicals produced from nitrate photolysis in aqueous particles may not contribute significantly to SOA formation since formic acid is a volatile species. Furthermore, recent predictions of formic acid/formate concentration from the most advanced chemical models are lower than ambient observations at both the ground level and high altitude. The present study reveals a new insight into the production of formic acid/formate as well as a sink of glyoxal in the atmosphere, which may partially narrow the gap between model predictions and field measurements in both species.


Abstract
Bungarus multicinctus venom contains several α-toxins in addition to the widely used α-bungarotoxin (Bgt 2.2). We have found that two of the α-toxins (Bgt 3.1 and 3.3) inhibit neuronal acetylcholine (AcCho) sensitivity when tested on ciliary ganglion neurons in cell culture. Over 90% of the AcCho sensitivity recorded in response to iontophoretic application of AcCho was blocked when the neurons were incubated with either of the toxins at 10-7 M for 1 hr at 37°C. The blockade could be partially reversed by incubating the neurons for 1-2 hr in medium lacking the toxins. The neurons also had a high-affinity binding site for Bgt 2.2, as indicated by binding studies with rhodamine-labeled Bgt 2.2. Concentrations of Bgt 2.2(10-7 M) that should be nearly adequate to saturate the high-affinity site, however, had no detectable effect on AcCho sensitivity of the neurons. Higher concentrations of Bgt 2.2(10-5 M) produced a partial inhibition of AcCho sensitivity, suggesting either that the neurons had two classes of binding sites for Bgt 2.2 (with the low-affinity site affecting AcCho sensitivity) or that the preparation of Bgt 2.2 contained minor components (e.g., Bgt 3.1 or 3.3) that were responsible for the blockade. The mechanisms by which Bgt 3.1 and 3.3 inhibit neuronal AcCho sensitivity remain unknown. If they bind specifically to the AcCho receptor, they will be useful agents for studying the distribution and regulation of this membrane component.


The electric field is a quantity of particular relevance in plasma physics. Indeed, its fluctuations are responsible for different macroscopic phenomena such as anomalous transport in fusion plasmas. Answering a long-standing challenge, we offer a new method to locally and non-intrusively measure weak electric fields and their fluctuations in plasmas, by means of a beam of hydrogen ions or atoms. We present measurements of the electric field in vacuum and in a plasma where Debye shielding is measured. For the first time, we have used the Lamb-shift resonance to measure oscillating electric fields around 1 GHz and observed the strong enhancement of the Lyman-α signal. The measurement is both direct and non-intrusive. This method provides sensitivity (mV cm−1) and temporal resolution (ns) that are three orders higher compared to current diagnostics. It thus allows measuring fluctuations of the electric field at scales not previously reached experimentally.


This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the gender differences in the Chilean labor market. We formally deal with the selection of the individuals into schooling levels and its consequences on the gender gaps. Our approach allows for the presence of not only heterogeneity in observable variables but also unobserved heterogeneity. We link this unobserved heterogeneity to unobserved scholastic ability. In the analysis, we utilize a new and rich data set for Chile. This data set contains information on labor market outcomes (including labor history), on schooling attainment and schooling performance, and on a complete set of variables characterizing the family background of the individuals in the sample Our results show that there exist statistically significant gender differences in several dimensions of the Chilean labor market. Nevertheless, we show that these gaps critically depend on the schooling level of the individuals considered in the analysis. For example, the results indicate that there are no gender differences in labor market variables among college graduates (except in the case of hourly wages). We interpret our results with prudence. Specifically, instead of interpreting our findings as decisive evidence of the existence of discrimination in the Chilean labor market, we argue that future research based on better information might indeed explain some of the unexplained labor market gaps presented in this paper. In this context, our results represent a new and important attempt to provide a full understanding of the structural causes of gender gaps in the Chilean labor market but they are not conclusive.


The nineteenth century was a period that featured a great development of experimental rationalism in the biological sciences. This rationalism was based on research methods that involved living animals—that is, vivisections. The knowledge, concepts, and practices that these sciences comprise nevertheless did not obtain the instantaneous recognition that a teleological reading of the phenomenon would tend to assume. Modes of diffusion and acceptance varied considerably from one country to another, with contrasts and discrepancies being particularly apparent between France—which, along with Germany, was at the time one of the centers from which these fields of knowledge were developed—and England, where the importation of experimental physiology helped the development of antivivisectionism, a social movement and an ideology that was hostile towards these new sciences, in the second half of the century. Using a synthetic approach that articulates the analysis of different levels of integration, this article proposes to explain the different processes found in France and England for universalizing the principles of these sciences.


The recent passage of health reform introduces a tax that many policy wonks love but much of the public hates. This initiative is the so-called Cadillac Tax on high-value health insurance plans. For years, economists have argued that the exclusion of employment sponsored insurance ("ESI") from taxable income represents a major distortion in the tax code that incentivizes overinsurance, which in turn causes overutilization of medical ser- vices and rising health costs. They tout the tax as a tool to help control costs and end inefficient distortions. They also claim that the tax is beneficial for lower- and middle-income individuals because the ESI exclusion in the Internal Revenue Code ("I.R.C.") § 106 disproportionately benefits the wealthy.

However, there are problems with the Cadillac Tax. Since the inception of ESI, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and the Department of the Treasury ("Treasury") have excluded it from income to avoid the complex matter of valuing health insurance. There are numerous other concerns involving the administration and proper drafting of the I.R.C. provisions pertaining to the ESI tax, since § 106—the section of the code which excludes ESI—links to many other parts of the fractured Code. While most of the policy debate focused on the economic gains and revenue raising power of the Cadillac Tax, few considered these problems. Yet, ease of administration is another important factor that one must consider in any tax debate, especially one involving an uncharted area like this one.

The provisions in the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA")1 and the Reconciliation legislation2 embrace the benefits of taxing ESI. However, the PPACA uses a flat excise tax with few adjustments across the board. While this approach is easy to administer, it fails to push as effectively toward equity and efficiency gains that a cap on the § 106 exclusion could provide, another tool for reforming ESI taxation that will be discussed throughout this Note. Thus, the so-called Cadillac Tax is a good idea that has been poorly legislated.

This Note seeks to outline the key points in the debate involving the PPACA Cadillac Tax and attempts to establish a framework for analyzing valuation methods. While the Note finds the PPACA's approach administratively simple, it finds the tax lacking in that it veers too far from the goals of efficiency and equity that an ESI cap might achieve. Two ESI cap proposals are analyzed: one based on premium value adjustments and the other based on actuarial values. Both are difficult to administer, but each seeks to achieve more equitable outcomes than those provided by the Cadillac Tax. Of the two proposals outlined, actuarial valuation holds the greatest promise at succeeding in the balancing act between efficiency, equity, and administration.


This paper estimates the nature and magnitude of the local externalities from own industry scale, as envisioned by Marshall. Census panel data on individual plants in high-tech and machinery industries across up to 487 countries are utilized, to quantify the direct effects of local external environment on plant productivity. Careful attention is paid to endogeneity issues in estimation. Magnitudes of scale externalities for corporate versus single plant firms are estimated and the sources of externalities (employment, numbers of plants, numbers of births, etc.) and extent (within the county versus extending to the rest of the MSA) are investigated. The paper asks in addition whether externalities are static or dynamic, a key issue in thinking about urban growth and industrial mobility; and whether they are dependent just on local own industry activity or also on overall local urban scale and/or diversity, a key issue in analyzing industrial composition and development of cities. The paper relates the findings on externalities for different industries to the extent of agglomeration and the degree of mobility of those industries across cities.


The Arequipa Massif, between the Andes and the Pacific, is an extensive pre-Devonian metamorphic complex. The sequence of deformations, metamorphisms and magmatism in this complex has been established. Mollendo, Atico and Marcona events are distinguished by structural and metamorphic methods and dated by Rb-Sr whole-rock isochrons, at about 1918, 440 and 392 Ma respectively. The Mollendo event led to partial melting, followed by granulite-facies metamorphism, in sediments buried to about 30 km. Further NW, sillimanite-bearing migmatites and staurolite-andalusite schists are thought to represent the same event. The tectonic trend is uncertain but the structures and metamorphism suggest a collision orogeny which probably pre-dated the Pacific Ocean. The early Caledonian Atico and Marcona events are associated with coast-parallel batholiths, amphibolite- to greenschist-facies metamorphism and penetrative deformations. The Atico and Marcona events are separated by the deposition of the Marcona Formation, which is therefore thought to be Lower Palaeozoic (between about 440 and 392 Ma). The early Caledonian deformations are attributed to a subduction zone near the present Pacific margin. There is no penetrative Hercynian or Andean deformation in the Arequipa Massif. Palaeomagnetic study of Jurassic andesites and dykes suggests that there has been no latitudinal motion of the Arequipa Massif relative to the Brazilian shield during the evolution of the Andes.


The focus of this paper is on the activism of the faculty of the Centre for Women's Studies and Development (CWSD), Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. Several feminists of India challenge the academy-centered interpretation of feminism. They believe that attention solely to theorizing feminism reinforces the privilege still existing in the wealthy, sanitized, and disassociated model present among many university professionals of the West. Academic feminists in India with whom I have been acquainted know themselves as "organic intellectuals." The changing face of feminism in India includes the activism of academics challenging the patriarchal structures at the grassroots level as well as among the personnel of the institutions perpetuating such structures. This paper demonstrates the efficacy of fusing activism with theory by the faculty of the Centre in their efforts to work with the local government in Panjab villages, and to attempt to record the incidence of female feticide and advocate for its end by changing law. The paper will also illustrate the role of the Centre's attempts to build coalitions even as it influences changes among law enforcement officers via gender sensitivity training of law enforcement agencies of three provincial governments.


Background: GPIHBP1 is crucial for the transport and localization of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) at the vascular endothelium. Results: The N-terminal and Ly6 domains of GPIHBP1 interact with LPL independently and with different kinetics. Conclusion: The domains of GPIHBP1 act as two independent binding sites for LPL. Significance: The partition of LPL between the binding sites on GPIHBP1 may influence its function in lipoprotein metabolism. GPIHBP1 is an endothelial membrane protein that transports lipoprotein lipase (LPL) from the subendothelial space to the luminal side of the capillary endothelium. Here, we provide evidence that two regions of GPIHBP1, the acidic N-terminal domain and the central Ly6 domain, interact with LPL as two distinct binding sites. This conclusion is based on comparative binding studies performed with a peptide corresponding to the N-terminal domain of GPIHBP1, the Ly6 domain of GPIHBP1, wild type GPIHBP1, and the Ly6 domain mutant GPIHBP1 Q114P. Although LPL and the N-terminal domain formed a tight but short lived complex, characterized by fast on- and off-rates, the complex between LPL and the Ly6 domain formed more slowly and persisted for a longer time. Unlike the interaction of LPL with the Ly6 domain, the interaction of LPL with the N-terminal domain was significantly weakened by salt. The Q114P mutant bound LPL similarly to the N-terminal domain of GPIHBP1. Heparin dissociated LPL from the N-terminal domain, and partially from wild type GPIHBP1, but was unable to elute the enzyme from the Ly6 domain. When LPL was in complex with the acidic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal domain of GPIHBP1, the enzyme retained its affinity for the Ly6 domain. Furthermore, LPL that was bound to the N-terminal domain interacted with lipoproteins, whereas LPL bound to the Ly6 domain did not. In summary, our data suggest that the two domains of GPIHBP1 interact independently with LPL and that the functionality of LPL depends on its localization on GPIHBP1.


The SiGe SD structure in peripheral PMOS area of DRAM was successfully integrated without any degradation of peripheral NMOS properties, which is the first approach to DRAM. The PMOS performance enhancement was found to be more than 40%. The authors suggest the SiGe SD structure as the key solution for the improvement of peripheral PMOS transistor properties in sub-50nm DRAM technology


Spot prices of electricity in liberalized markets feature seasonality, mean reversion, random short-term jumps, skewness and highly kurtosis, as a result from the interaction between the supply and demand and the physical restrictions for transportation and storage. To account for such stylized facts, we propose a stochastic process with a component of mean reversion and switching regime to represent the dynamics of the spot price of electricity and its logarithm. The short-term movements are represented by semi-nonparametric (SNP) distributions, in contrast to previous studies that traditionally assume Gaussian processes. The application is done for the Colombian electricity market, where El Niño phenomenon represents an additional source of risk that should be considered to guarantee long-term supply, sustainability of investments and efficiency of prices. We show that the switching regime model with SNP distributions for the random components outperforms traditional models leading to accurate estimates and simulations, and thus being a useful tool for risk management and policy making.


Equivalence testing for scalar data has been well addressed in the literature, however, the same cannot be said for functional data. The resultant complexity from maintaining the functional structure of the data, rather than using a scalar transformation to reduce dimensionality, renders the existing literature on equivalence testing inadequate for the desired inference. We propose a framework for equivalence testing for functional data within both the frequentist and Bayesian paradigms. This framework combines extensions of scalar methodologies with new methodology for functional data. Our frequentist hypothesis test extends the Two One-Sided Testing (TOST) procedure for equivalence testing to the functional regime. We conduct this TOST procedure through the use of the nonparametric bootstrap. Our Bayesian methodology employs a functional analysis of variance model, and uses a flexible class of Gaussian Processes for both modeling our data and as prior distributions. Through our analysis, we introduce a model for heteroscedastic variances within a Gaussian Process by modeling variance curves via Log-Gaussian Process priors. We stress the importance of choosing prior distributions that are commensurate with the prior state of knowledge and evidence regarding practical equivalence. We illustrate these testing methods through data from an ongoing method comparison study between two devices for pulmonary function testing. In so doing, we provide not only concrete motivation for equivalence testing for functional data, but also a blueprint for researchers who hope to conduct similar inference.


BACKGROUND
It is important for surgeons to determine whether combined portal vein (PV) resection (PVR) is necessary before surgery. The present study aimed to determine the ability of computed tomography (CT) value along the PV in predicting the necessity for concomitant PVR.

METHODS
A total of 107 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreatic head at our institute between September 2007 and September 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Univariate analysis to predict PVR was performed with preoperative radiological valuables acquired by Synapse Vincent. The resected specimen near the PV or the PV notch was analyzed by histopathological findings.

RESULTS
Only the CT value of the PV was independently associated with PVR (Mann-Whitney U test; P = .045, logistic regression test; P = .039). The outer boundary of the PV was unclear in the cases without pathological PV invasion and PVR due to the development of smooth muscle in the outer membrane of the PV and the proliferation of collagen fibers. The elastic fibers were arranged regularly in the notch portion of the PV in cases wherein PVR was not performed.

DISCUSSION
The CT value along the PV was independently associated with PVR and is the only predictor of PVR. These results were very useful in predicting PVR preoperatively and were histopathologically supportive.


Understanding the effect of changing stress conditions on multiphase flow in porous media is of fundamental importance for many subsurface activities including enhanced oil recovery, water drawdown from aquifers, soil confinement, and geologic carbon storage. Geomechanical properties of complex porous systems are dynamically linked to flow conditions, but their feedback relationship is often oversimplified due to the difficulty of representing pore-scale stress deformation and multiphase flow characteristics in high fidelity. In this work, we performed pore-scale experiments of single- and multiphase flow through bead packs at different confining pressure conditions to elucidate compaction-dependent characteristics of granular packs and their impact on fluid flow. A series of drainage and imbibition cycles were conducted on a water-wet, soda-lime glass bead pack under varying confining stress conditions. Simultaneously, X-ray micro-CT was used to visualize and quantify the degree of deformation and fluid distribution corresponding with each stress condition and injection cycle. Micro-CT images were segmented using a gradient-based method to identify fluids (e.g., oil and water), and solid phase redistribution throughout the different experimental stages. Changes in porosity, tortuosity, and specific surface area were quantified as a function of applied confining pressure. Results demonstrate varying degrees of sensitivity of these properties to confiningmore » pressure, which suggests that caution must be taken when considering scalability of these properties for practical modeling purposes. Changes in capillary number with confining pressure are attributed to the increase in pore velocity as a result of pore contraction. Furthermore, this increase in pore velocity was found to have a marginal impact on average phase trapping at different confining pressures.« less


Background The improvement of quality at the primary health care level in low resource settings is key to addressing health equity challenges around the world. In 2014, a Sénégal-Peace Corps-University of Illinois at Chicago partnership began to study the impact of a community-engaged quality improvement program on health services and regional health system determinants to prevent cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Sénégal. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a multi-site participatory quality improvement (QI) approach can identify access barriers and provide contextualized programmatic recommendations to strengthen the cervical cancer screening program in the rural Kédougou region of Sénégal and inform higher-level program implementation and sustainment. Methods : We adapted a facility-level quality improvement process by involving community health committee representatives. Using a mixed methods case study approach, we collected data at nine demonstration sites in the K é dougou region from quality improvement program action plans, client surveys, health leader interviews, and service guidelines discussions at the regional level from January 2015 through June 2019. We calculated the demand and supply-side barriers and organized them into the Levesque Patient-Centered Access to Health Care Framework. Results During the study period, 27 quality improvement meetings took place. There were a total of 50 (14 unique) stated access barriers to cervical cancer prevention across all sites. The health service barriers were concentrated in approachability (5) and availability and accommodation (16), whereas the demand-side barriers were concentrated in the ability to perceive (14) and ability to seek care (3). Individual health facilities responded with increased community outreach among other interventions while regional programmatic recommendations led to strategic partnership initiatives such as social mobilization and peer-to-peer education activities. Conclusions The community-engaged QI process has meaningfully contributed to strategic planning of the implementation and sustainment of a cervical cancer screening program within the context of rural Kédougou, Sénégal. The iterative and patient-focused nature of QI has allowed health personnel to continually strengthen how they deliver their health services to meet the community's needs while data aggregated from QI action plans across multiple sites has helped inform responsive health policies to ensure program sustainment. The parallel and iterative application of participatory capacity building and QI activities across multiple sites provides a useful approach for implementing sustainable cervical cancer programs.


Theory of Mind (TOM) is an ability to simulate mental activities, attribute intention, and predict behaviors of others. According to Ickes's study (1990), there are strong correlation between empathy and TOM. However, whether they have any causal-effect relationship is still unclear. It is possible to differentiate the two processes from a developmental perspective since TOM ability develops later than empathy. This study aimed to study the influence of empathy on TOM processes. In the experiment (N=28), 4-year-olds children received a traditional false belief task first; and then after a week, they were divided into two different empathic situations: bullying condition and bully-victim condition. The study found a trend that the TOM score is lower in the bullying condition but higher in the bully-victim condition compared to the baseline condition despite of the insufficient subjects. It suggests that empathic states indeed impact TOM processing.


Author(s): Setiyawan, Dahlia Gratia | Advisor(s): Robinson, Geoffrey | Abstract: Within a decade of its 1945 declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule, Indonesia emerged at the vanguard of the global Non-Aligned Movement. Leveraging Western Bloc as well as Sino-Soviet interest in the new nation, Indonesia's president, Sukarno, simultaneously secured economic aid and other support from both sides while maintaining a precarious domestic balance of power between the right-wing of the Army and the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). However, by the early 1960s, as Sukarno began to take a more aggressive anti-imperialist posture toward the West, power began to shift in favor of the PKI and its radical nationalist allies. Indonesia's Cold War "slide toward communism," long a troubling prospect to the United States, thus became a critical and urgent focus of U.S. foreign policy.Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya, was one of the strongest bases of support for both Sukarno and the PKI and a hub of overt and covert U.S. anti-communist operations. However, scholars have long overlooked its role as a critical site of the Cold War in Southeast Asia. As U.S.-Indonesian relations deteriorated and street-level anti-Americanism escalated, U.S. officials in Surabaya, forged alliances with local anti-communist collaborators and ramped up operations aimed at overthrowing Sukarno and destroying the PKI. Although it seemed at first that their efforts might not succeed, a failed `PKI coup attempt' on 1 October 1965 provided the justification for both of these objectives to be conclusively achieved. The campaign of mass violence that subsequently took place conclusively changed Indonesia's political direction and paved the way for improved U.S.-Indonesian relations. This dissertation reveals new details about the 1965-66 purge of the Left in Surabaya and about the bilateral relations and political conflict that preceded it. Examining these topics from the lens of microhistory suggests that this method offers an equally valuable way to approach the broader study of U.S. foreign policy, political violence, and the Cold War itself.


Data is becoming an increasingly important asset in today's organizations. Various challenges in the age of big data, such as high volume and high velocity, call for efficient database maintenance policies. This study focuses on deriving an optimal synchronization policy for consolidated database systems. By trading off synchronization cost with data staleness cost, we propose a time-based dynamic synchronization (TDS) policy, which evaluates the system state at predetermined checkpoints and synchronizes a consolidated database system only if given staleness thresholds are crossed. Although several database synchronization and knowledge refreshment policies have been proposed in the prior literature, the TDS policy retains their advantages and overcomes their inflexibility in that, under the TDS policy, system check and synchronization are easy to schedule, disruptions to business operations can be avoided, and synchronization is run only if necessary. Experimental results show that the TDS policy consistently outperforms benchmark policies, leading to substantial cost savings. In particular, the performance gap between the TDS policy and a static periodic policy is greater when data changes arrive less frequently but carry higher unit staleness costs, or when queries arrive more frequently and suffer higher unit staleness costs.


In this study, silver (Ag) nanoparticles were successfully biosynthesized from AgNO3 through a simple green route using the lichen extract [Cetraria islandica (L) Ach] as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The mean sizes of spherical Ag nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 5 nm to 29 nm were obtained at different reaction conditions. The nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the effects of temperature, reaction time and AgNO3/lichen ratio on green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles. The results showed that the increase in reaction time and AgNO3/ lichen ratio caused a decrease of particle size and the increase in temperature resulted in bigger particles.


Active-passive damping is getting more popular with designers because it combines the complementary passive and active features in the control of structural vibrations. The classical three-layer structure has a viscoelastic-layer sandwiched between the host beam and a piezoelectric-layer.

The more prevalent assumptions for modeling the system are the use of Euler-Bernoulli beam theory for both the host beam and piezoelectric-layer, and Timoshenko beam theory for the viscoelastic-layer. The assumption that transverse displacement is constant through the thickness limits accuracy and applicability of the model. The current formulation expresses the through-the-thickness dependency of the field variables as polynomials while their span dependency across a finite element is cubically interpolated.

The versatility of the formulation is demonstrated via static and dynamic studies of examples taken from the literature. A beam treated with active-passive damping is presented and examined. The constitutive relation of the viscoelastic layer is represented using fractional derivatives and the Grünwald approximation. The extended Hamilton's principle is used to derive the system governing equations which are integrated with the Newmark time-integration system.


Transfer of the tumor-inducing plasmid in Agrobacterium tumefaciens is controlled by a quorum-sensing system whose main components are the transcriptional regulator TraR and its autoinducer. This system allows bacteria to synchronize infection of the host plant when a "quorum" of cells has been reached. TraM is an A. tumefaciens protein involved in the regulation of this system because it binds to TraR and prevents it from binding DNA. As a first step to understanding the molecular basis for the regulation of TraR by TraM, we have determined the crystal structure of TraM at 1.65 Å resolution. This protein is packed as a dimer, with each monomer consisting mainly of two antiparallel α helices. Monomers are tightly associated, with a large hydrophobic area buried upon dimerization. Secondly, we characterized the TraR-TraM complex in vitro. TraM (11.4 kDa, monomer molecular mass) binds tightly TraR (27 kDa, monomer molecular mass) forming a stable oligomeric complex that likely accounts for two TraR and two TraM dimers.


Cancer is caused by mutation(s) in driver gene(s), leading to the transformation of normal cell into malignant one, followed by rapid proliferation. Head and neck cancers (HNCs) comprise epithelial malignancies of the mucosal lining in upper aero-digestive tract. These cancers are heterogeneous in nature. Carcinogenesis therein is correlated with the use of tobacco, chewing of areca nut (betel quid), alcohol consumption and infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). These factors in conjunction with molecular variations contribute to tumour development, pathology and response to treatment. Thus, the carcinogenesis of head and neck cancers comprise a complex system of gene-gene and geneenvironment interactions.


Peripheral nerve injuries are often associated with loss of nerve tissue and require a graft to bridge the gap. Autologous nerve grafts are still the 'gold standard' in reconstructive surgery but have several disadvantages, such as sacrifice of a functional nerve, neuroma formation and loss of sensation at the donor site. Bioengineered grafts represent a promising approach to address this problem. In this study, poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) strips were used to bridge a 10 mm rat sciatic nerve gap and their effects on long‐term (12 weeks) nerve regeneration were compared. PHB strips were seeded with different cell types, either primary Schwann cells (SCs) or SC‐like differentiated adipose‐derived stem cells (dASCs) suspended in a fibrin glue matrix. The control group was PHB and fibrin matrix without cells. Functional and morphological properties of the regenerated nerve were assessed using walking track analysis, EMGs, muscle weight ratios and muscle and nerve histology. The animals treated with PHB strips seeded with SCs or dASCs showed significantly better functional ability than the control group. This correlated with less muscle atrophy and greater axon myelination in the cell groups. These findings suggest that the PHB strip seeded with cells provides a beneficial environment for nerve regeneration. Furthermore, dASCs, which are abundant and easily accessible, constitute an attractive cell source for future applications of cell therapy for the clinical repair of traumatic nerve injuries. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


While many popular web sites on the Internet use frame busting to defend against clickjacking, very few mobile sites use frame busting. Similarly, few embedded web sites such as those used on home routers use frame busting. In this paper we show that framing attacks on mobile sites and home routers can have devastating effects. We develop a new attack called tap-jacking that uses features of mobile browsers to implement a strong clickjacking attack on phones. Tap-jacking on a phone is more powerful than traditional clickjacking attacks on desktop browsers. For home routers we show that framing attacks can result in theft of the wifi WPA secret key and a precise geolocalization of the wifi network. Finally, we show that overlay-based frame busting, such as used by Facebook, can leak private user information.


Much of the literature on interest rate pass through assumes banks set retail rates in relation to contemporary market rates. We argue that future rates also matter, and if forecasts of future rates are included, the empirical specifications of many previous studies are misspecified. Including forecasts rquires careful choice of the data and models used to make forecasts: a large number of variables could influence future market rates, suggesting that factor forecasts method may be an appropriate method to consider. We evaluate forecasts before including them in a model of retail rate adjustment for five interest rates in five European countries and the euro area as a whole. We find a significant role for forecasts of future interest rates in determining short- and long-run pass through, and we show that models which do not include future rates do not provide accurate estimates.


Background: This study assesses the effectiveness of a campaign "Are We Drinking Ourselves Sick?" that ran nationally in Jamaica in four phases from 2017 to 2019 to increase knowledge about the harms of sugary drinks, shift attitudes, and build support for policy actions to address sugary drink consumption, including a tax and a ban in schools. Methods: Campaign impact was measured in representative cross-sectional household surveys of adults ages 18 to 55. A baseline survey was conducted before the launch of the campaign (n = 1430). Evaluation surveys were conducted mid-campaign (n = 1571) and post-campaign (n = 1500). Campaign impact was assessed by comparing changes across survey periods on key knowledge, attitudinal and policy support outcome indicators. The independent association between campaign awareness and outcomes was analyzed using logistic regression analyses. Results: The campaign was recalled by more than 80% of respondents and was well-received with 90% or more respondents describing it as believable and relevant. There was a decline in knowledge on the harms of sugary drinks from the baseline to post-campaign period, notably on risks of diabetes (adjusted odds ratio or AOR = 0.62, p < 0.001), overweight and obesity (AOR = 0.58, p < 0.001), and heart disease (AOR = 0.79, p < 0.003). However, post-campaign awareness was independently associated in logistic regression analysis with improved knowledge of the harms of sugary drinks, including risks of diabetes (AOR = 1.45, p = 0.019), overweight or obesity (AOR = 1.65, p = 0.001), and heart disease (AOR = 1.44, p = 0.011). Support for government action remained high across survey waves (≥90%), and campaign awareness was independently associated with increased policy support for sugary drinks taxes (Mid-campaign: AOR = 1.43, p = 0.019; post-campaign: AOR = 1.46, p = 0.01) and restrictions on sugary drinks in schools (AOR = 1.55, p = 0.01). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the role that media campaigns can play in maintaining knowledge and concern about the health harms of sugary drinks and increasing support for policy passage.


In the current generation of SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems used in power grids, a sophisticated attacker can exploit system vulnerabilities and use a legitimate maliciously crafted command to cause a wide range of system changes that traditional contingency analysis does not consider and remedial action schemes cannot handle. To detect such malicious commands, we propose a semantic analysis framework based on a distributed network of intrusion detection systems (IDSes). The framework combines system knowledge of both cyber and physical infrastructure in power grid to help IDS to estimate execution consequences of control commands, thus to reveal attacker's malicious intentions. We evaluated the approach on the IEEE 30-bus system. Our experiments demonstrate that: (i) by opening 3 transmission lines, an attacker can avoid detection by the traditional contingency analysis and instantly put the tested 30-bus system into an insecure state and (ii) the semantic analysis provides reliable detection of malicious commands with a small amount of analysis time.


This article explores the use of one of the most popular Plagiarism Detection Software (PDS), Turnitin, to address the problem of plagiarism in the academe, specifically in the context of a private university in the Philippines. To investigate the possible benefits and limitations of the PDS as well as the students' attitudes towards the software, this paper used the argumentative essays (checked via Turnitin) of 31 students in two introductory ESL writing classes along with their responses to two sets of self-reflection surveys. The results of the study reaffirmed certain laudable benefits claimed by Turnitin, while these also revealed a few limitations in the software's promise of detecting plagiarism, especially in the common instances of misuse of the PDS and blurred lines between the concepts of originality and plagiarism. The use of Turnitin was found to engender conflicting attitudes among the students towards avoiding this academic offense. Hence, this paper strongly recommends the careful guidance of stakeholders (teachers and students alike) in the proper use of the promising PDS as well as the re-evaluation of the plagiarism policy or approach of the institution in order to "educate-to-avoid" instead of promoting "detect-to-punish" measures (Starr & Graham-Matheson, 2011b, p. 5) in upholding academic integrity.


Power MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor, Field Effect Transistors) differ from bipolar transistors in operating principles, specifications, and performance. In fact, the performance characteristics of MOSFETs are generally superior to those of bipolar transistors: significantly faster switching time, simpler drive circuitry, the absence of or reduction of the second-breakdown failure mechanism, the ability to be paralleled, and stable gain and response time over a wide temperature range. This note provides a basic explanation of general MOSFET characteristics, and a more thorough discussion of structure, thermal characteristics, gate parameters, operating frequency, output characteristics, and drive requirements.


System design and development methods need to be contextualized to the specific needs. Most developing countries are characterized by low economies and infrastructure, complex and heterogeneous culture. In these countries software development is characterized by big differences in education and livelihood. Culture has impacts in ICT development and use. Discount usability methods are lightweight methods to be integrated with agile methods. The paper addresses research questions, what contextual factors in Ethiopia trigger tailoring usability practices, and how can discount usability methods be adapted and integrated into the Scrum-agile development with especial emphasis on the Ethiopian context. The research aims at adapting software engineering and ICT development methods to the specific situation and integrating user-centered design (UCD) and lightweight usability methods into agile development. Two projects have been considered for the empirical research. Cooperative Method Development (CMD) has been used as the research approach. Interview notes, observations and workshop results have been analyzed using thematic coding and qualitative data analysis. Local IT personnel bridged between end users and developers. Culturally adapted user pair testing and heuristic evaluation supported usability testing and supported developers in getting early feedback. Integrated approach of discount usability with the Scrum process has been developed and evaluated first with the involved practitioners and second with expert evaluation.


Recent genetic studies have linked a C to T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) to several autoimmune diseases (ADs). This changes amino acid at position 620 from an Arginine (R) to a Tryptophan (W) in the protein, Lyp. Lyp is thought to be a negatively regulator of TCR signalling by dephosphorylating Src family kinases Lck and Fyn, and Zap70. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of predisposition to ADs by the R620W polymorphism are not yet understood. Several studies have reported the R620W polymorphism as a "gain of function" change resulting in an increase in the PTP activity of Lyp. It has been further hypothesised that the W620 isoform suppresses TCR signalling more potently than the R620 isoform, resulting in the survival of auto-reactive cells that would normally be deleted by negative selection in the thymus. Alternatively, the impact of Lyp W620 on TCR signalling may have an effect on the development and functioning of T regulatory cells. To investigate the effect of the R620W polymorphism in T cells, lentivirus plasmids expressing the R and W isoforms of Lyp were generated and used to introduce the Lyp and wLyp isoforms in leukaemic T cells thereby generating H9 and E6.1 cell lines over- R W expressing the Lyp and Lyp isoforms. Investigation of activation marker expression and cytokine production by these T cell lines post activation showed no differences in CD69 activation marker expression between the RLyp and wLyp expressing T cells or between the R/wLyp expressing and control cells (not expressing exogenous Lyp). However, there was a trend towards a reduction in IL-2 production observed by R/WLyp expressing H9 T cells compared to control cells. In addition, a significant reduction in IL-10 production by R/wLyp expressing H9 T cells compared to control cells was observed. This effect of Lyp on IL-10 production suggests a potential mechanism by which wLyp, if indeed a more active PTP, may predispose to ADs.


Outlier detection (OD) is a key problem, for which numerous solutions have been proposed. To deal with the difficulties associated with outlier detection across various domains and data characteristics, ensembles of outlier detectors have recently been employed to improve the performance of individual outlier detectors. In this paper, we follow an ensemble outlier detection approach in which good outlier detectors are selected through an enhanced clustering-based dynamic selection (CBDS) method. In this method, a bisecting K-means clustering algorithm is employed to partition the input data into clusters where every cluster defines a local region of competence. Among the initial pool of detectors, the outputs of the detectors with the most competent local performance were combined through four possible schemes to produce the final OD results. Experimental evaluation and comparison of our method were carried out against four variants of locally selective combination in parallel (LSCP) outlier ensembles. The CBDS-based schemes compare well with the LSCP-based ones on 16 public benchmark datasets and incur considerably lower computational costs. The CBDS method consistently achieved superior average scores of the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and particularly outperformed the LSCP method on nine of the 16 datasets in terms of the AUC score. In addition, while the CBDS and LSCP methods have similar computational costs on small datasets, the CBDS method achieves significant time savings compared with the LSCP method on large datasets.


The present research attempts to explain dynamic pull-in instability of functionally graded microcantilevers actuated by step DC voltage while the fringing-field effect is taken into account in the vibrational equation of motion. By employing modern asymptotic approach namely Homotopy Perturbation Method with an auxiliary term, high-order frequency-amplitude relation is obtained, then the influences of material properties and actuation voltage on dynamic pull-in behavior are investigated. It is demonstrated that the auxiliary term in the homotopy perturbation method is extremely effective for higher order approximation and two terms in series expansions are sufficient to produce an acceptable solution. The strength of this analytical procedure is verified through comparison with numerical results.


The posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragments is an extremely rare event with an unknown pathogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previously reported cases of a change of ordinary disc herniation into the posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragments as confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A 26-year-old male presented to our department complaining of left buttock and lateral leg pain. An ordinary herniation was shown in the first MRI. The patient's unilateral symptoms changed into bilateral symptoms while awaiting admission to the hospital. Posterior migrated lumbar disc fragments were shown in the second MRI taken at the time of admission. Microendoscopic surgery providing a detailed observation of the region was performed. Our case indicates that an ordinary lumbar disc herniation may lead to the posterior migration of lumbar disc fragments, and that microendoscopic surgery may provide a treatment.


The distinguishing features of active exoskeletons are the capability of guiding arm movement at the level of the full kinematic chain of the human arm, and training full 3D spatial movements. We have specifically developed a PD sliding mode control for upper limb rehabilitation with gain scheduling for providing "assistance as needed", according to the force capability of the patient, and an automatic measurement of the impaired arm joint torques, to evaluate the hypertonia associated to the movement during the execution of the training exercise. Two different training tasks in Virtual Reality were devised, that make use of the above control, and allow to make a performance based evaluation of patient's motor status. The PERCRO L-Exos (Light-Exoskeleton) was used to evaluate the proposed algorithms and training exercises in two clinical case studies of patients with chronic stroke, that performed 6 weeks of robotic assisted training. Clinical evaluation (Fugl-Meyer Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale, Bimanual Activity Test) was conducted before and after treatment and compared to the scores and the quantitative indices, such as task time, position/joint error and resistance torques, associated to the training exercises.


There is an increasing reliance on mathematical modelling to assist in the design of piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers since this provides a cost-effective and quick way to arrive at a first prototype. Given a desired operating envelope for the sensor the inverse problem of obtaining the associated design parameters within the model can be considered. It is therefore of practical interest to examine the well-posedness of such models. There is a need to extend the use of such sensors into high temperature environments and so this paper shows, for a broad class of models, the well-posedness of the magneto-electro-thermo-elastic problem. Due to its widespread use in the literature, we also show the well-posedness of the quasi-electrostatic case MSC class: 35; 35Q60; 46N20;74F05


Zoos have multiple roles in recreation, conservation, education and research. There is a lack of information on the motivation and expectation of local visitors who visit zoos in developing countries. A social survey was carried out to identify the perception of visitors towards the roles of three Malaysian zoos. The results indicate that visitors who go to the zoo mainly do so for recreation and they prefer to see attractive and active animals, rather than threatened and healthy animals, although the variation in the mean scores of these perceptions was minimal. The majority of respondents perceived that animals were kept mainly to attract visitors. However, most respondents were knowledgeable on issues related to conservation, education and research in zoos, and would like to see zoos move towards achieving these goals. The respondents perceived the zoos, in priority order, as places for conservation, education, research and recreation. These results may provide some guidance for local zoos in future planning, in particular in designing and improving the facilities and exhibits in order to fulfil their roles effectively.


We investigate training machine learning (ML) models across a set of geo-distributed, resource-constrained clusters of devices through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) swarms. The presence of time-varying data heterogeneity and computational resource inadequacy among device clusters motivate four key parts of our methodology: (i) stratified UAV swarms of leader, worker, and coordinator UAVs, (ii) hierarchical nested personalized federated learning (HN-PFL), a distributed ML framework for personalized model training across the worker-leader-core network hierarchy, (iii) cooperative UAV resource pooling to address computational inadequacy of devices by conducting model training among the UAV swarms, and (iv) model/concept drift to model time-varying data distributions. In doing so, we consider both micro (i.e., UAV-level) and macro (i.e., swarm-level) system design. At the micro-level, we propose network-aware HN-PFL, where we distributively orchestrate UAVs inside swarms to optimize energy consumption and ML model performance with performance guarantees. At the macro-level, we focus on swarm trajectory and learning duration design, which we formulate as a sequential decision making problem tackled via deep reinforcement learning. Our simulations demonstrate the improvements achieved by our methodology in terms of ML performance, network resource savings, and swarm trajectory efficiency.


Two-dimensional (2D) insulators are a key element in the design and fabrication of van der Waals heterostructures. They are vital as transparent dielectric spacers whose thickness can influence both the photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic properties of 2D devices. Simultaneously, they provide protection of the active layers in the heterostructure. For these critical roles, hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN) is the dominant choice due to its large bandgap, atomic flatness, low defect density, and encapsulation properties. However, the broad catalogue of 2D insulators offers exciting opportunities to replace hBN in certain applications that require transparent thin layers with additional optical degrees of freedom. Here we investigate the potential of single-crystalline Molybdenum Oxide (MoO$_3$) as an alternative 2D insulator for the design of nanodevices that require precise adjustment of the light polarization at the nanometer scale. First, we measure the wavelength-dependent refractive indices of MoO$_3$ along its three main crystal axes and determine the in-plane and out-of-plane anisotropy of its optical properties. We find the birefringence in MoO$_3$ nanosheets compares favorably with other 2D materials that exhibit strong birefringence, such as black phosphorus, ReS$_2$, or ReSe$_2$, in particular in the visible spectral range where MoO$_3$ has the unique advantage of transparency. Finally, we demonstrate the suitability of MoO$_3$ for dielectric encapsulation by reporting linewidth narrowing and reduced inhomogeneous broadening of 2D excitons and optically active quantum emitters, respectively, in a prototypical monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductor. These results show the potential of MoO$_3$ as a 2D dielectric layer for manipulation of the light polarization in vertical 2D heterostructures.


The main flaw of neural network ensembling is that it is exceptionally demanding computationally, especially, if the individual sub-models are large neural networks, which must be trained separately. Having in mind that modern DNNs can be very accurate, they are already the huge ensembles of simple classifiers, and that one can construct more thrifty compressed neural net of a similar performance for any ensemble, the idea of designing the expensive SuperNets can be questionable. The widespread belief that ensembling increases the prediction time, makes it not attractive and can be the reason that the main stream of ML research is directed towards developing better loss functions and learning strategies for more advanced and efficient neural networks. On the other hand, all these factors make the architectures more complex what may lead to overfitting and high computational complexity, that is, to the same flaws for which the highly parametrized SuperNets ensembles are blamed. The goal of the master thesis is to speed up the execution time required for ensemble generation. Instead of training K inaccurate sub-models, each of them can represent various phases of training (representing various local minima of the loss function) of a single DNN [Huang et al., 2017; Gripov et al., 2018]. Thus, the computational performance of the SuperNet can be comparable to the maximum CPU time spent on training its single sub-model, plus usually much shorter CPU time required for training the SuperNet coupling factors.


Interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) supported on the orifice of a pipet have become a powerful platform to detect a broad range of analytes. We present here the detection of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with the nanoITIES pipet electrodes for the first time. GABA has a net charge of zero in an aqueous solution at pH ≈ 7, and it has not previously been detected at ITIES. In this work, we demonstrated GABA detection at ITIES in an aqueous solution at pH ≈ 7, where we introduced a novel detection strategy based on "pH modulation from the oil phase". To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such. Current increases linearly with increasing concentrations of GABA, ranging from 0.25 mM to 1.0 mM. The measured half-wave transfer potential of GABA is -0.401 ± 0.010 V ( n = 22) vs E1/2,TBA. The measured diffusion coefficient for GABA detection at nanoITIES pipet electrode is 6.09 (±0.58) × 10-10 m2/s ( n = 5). Experimental results indicate that protons generated from octanoic acid dissociation in the oil phase do not come out from the oil phase into the aqueous phase; neither were protons produced in the aqueous phase. NanoITIES pipet electrodes with radii of 320-340 nm were used in the current study. This new strategy and knowledge presented here lays the groundwork for the future development of ITIES pipet electrodes, especially for the detection of electrochemically nonredox active analytes.


Childbearing Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program When pregnancy is allowed to progress naturally, most of the time a woman will give birth to her newborn with no complications. However, in the current healthcare climate, a woman is faced with many interventions during pregnancy that are changing the climate of birth in many institutions across the country. Medical professionals order inductions and other interventions, patients do not know what these inductions and interventions are for, and nurses are caught in the middle. How do we change the current climate? Proposed Change To incorporate an evidence‐based holistic approach to the healthcare climate by using Jean Watson's Nursing Theory to affect patients and remind them of their innate abilities. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation After meeting with departments throughout the institution to discuss the foundation of the program, referrals from various sources started. Patients will meet with the certified nurse‐midwife (CNM) multiple times during their pregnancies depending on their gestations, free of cost. They discuss resources for education and formulate a birth path. Meetings also cover different birthing options and practices and allow patients to explore what is right for them. After the last meeting before delivery, the CNM writes up a summation of the meetings that took place with the patient and attaches a copy of the patient's birth path. This information is attached to the patient's prenatal chart, which allows staff the opportunity to view it at the time of the patient's admission. Implications for Nursing Practice Holistic birth is not equated with natural birth; however, as the program has grown it has become increasingly apparent that women want to experience the most they can from their deliveries, regardless of what drew them to the program initially. The epidural and cesarean delivery rates are significantly lower in the program, and another important trend has risen to the surface. Women who participate in this program feel empowered to ask questions, challenge the status quo, and be active participants in the decisions regarding their births. All of this has culminated into a satisfying, rewarding experience, regardless of the outcome.


Together with starting to observe the situations like the development differences seen between the countries after industrial revolution between the cities and regions of the countries. This situation leads some of the cities to emigrate and some other cities to become more crowded. The negative externalities emerging in migrationreceiving cities make the life in those cities intolerable, whilst the decreasing population of emigrant cities triggers the decrease in both of demand and supply that is a production factor. The reflection of this situation shows itself as the cycle of "migration-revenue decrease-migration". Through the investment incentives given to underdeveloped regions in order to prevent the migration that is a reflection of regional imbalances, it is aimed to decrease the imbalances by increasing the employment and revenue. The incentives applied in the year after statistical region classification in Turkey consist of incentives in periods of 2004-2008 and 2009-2012. In this study, it has been examined if there is any convergence between the income per capita in city and region axes, and if the incentives have any influence on this convergence. The investment incentives prepared in accordance with the realities of the cities eliminate the development differences by creating more efficient results. As a policy argument, it can be asserted that the incentive implementations considering the comparative superiorities of the cities will play more important roles in both of ensuring the efficient use of the resources and closing the development differences.


The off-road vehicles have much higher rolling resistance due to tire sinkage. This paper presents a proposed system for automatic adaptation for tire inflation/deflation, according to operating conditions. The tire inflation pressure is manually changed by the driver to some prefixed pressure values. The proposed control system is based on calculating the instantaneous wheel slip ratio. As the slip ratio increases, the tire pressure decreases automatically to increase the contact area and to decrease the dynamic sinkage and vice versa. An algorithm for the control strategy is developed. The proposed system provides a continuous monitoring of tire pressures inside the tire and then to inflate/deflate according to terrain types. The results show that a low inflation pressure has a considerable effect on the net traction ratio where it improves the performance by 20% and the buffed tire has a better traction than lugged tire on sand.


Humans are genetically incapable of producing the mammalian sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), due to an inactivating mutation in the enzyme synthesizing it. Despite this, human cells and tissues appear capable of metabolically incorporating Neu5Gc from exogenous sources, including dietary red meat and dairy products. All normal humans studied are now shown to have circulating Abs against Neu5Gc, with marked differences in isotype levels. The question arises whether such Abs can adversely affect Neu5Gc-expressing human cells or tissues. In this study, we show that although normal human PBMC do not incorporate Neu5Gc during in vitro incubation, activated T cells do. Primary human leukemia cells and human leukemic cell lines are even more efficient at incorporation. Human sera containing naturally high levels of anti-Neu5Gc IgG Abs (hereafter abbreviated GcIg) deposited complement on Neu5Gc-expressing leukemic cells and activated T cells, but not on normal cells. The binding of GcIg resulted in complement-mediated cytotoxicity, which was inhibited by heat inactivation. Low anti-Neu5Gc IgG-containing human sera did not mediate any of these effects. Mixed killing assays confirmed the 15-fold selective killing of leukemic cells over PBMC by GcIg following Neu5Gc feeding. This approach could potentially serve as novel way to target malignant cells for death in vivo using either natural Abs or anti-Neu5Gc Abs prepared for this purpose. Further studies are needed to determine whether deposition of natural GcIg and complement can also target healthy proliferating immune cells for death in vivo following incorporation of dietary Neu5Gc.


The majority of worldwide coasts is experiencing a wide range of anthropogenic and natural pressures. These issues have become a major threat to economic sustainability and environmental quality, intensifying use conflicts, creating social unrest and destabilizing the national economy. Recognizing the socioeconomic importance of the coastal zone. the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) has prominently placed integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) in the Agenda 21. ICZM is an ecologically-based approach to environmental management and it is associated with two general objectives: (i) to restore and maintain the ecological integrity of coastal ecosystems, and (ii) to maintain important human values and uses with those resources. The above mentioned natural and anthropogenic pressures illustrate the wide range of interacting, incompletely understood issues and the difficult challenger that any strategy to attain an ICZM must address. The Brazilian ICZM could be referred as the National Plan Coastal Management, legally established in 1988. As the most developed region in Brazil, the State of Sao Paulo coastal zone is also undergoing numerous natural and anthropogenic pressures. Among the natural pressures are sea-level rise and global climate change. Anthropogenic pressures are consequence of rapid urbanization, population growth, tourism activities, port and harbor development, industrialization, natural resources exploitation, waste assimilation and environmental pollution. The State of Sao Paulo has also its own ICZM named State Plan for Coastal Management (SPCM), which is derived from the National one. This paper presents the general organization of the SPCM, including government polices, framework,  implementation strategies and actions, as well as the important role played by Quaternary studies in order to improve this plan.


Female rats were ovariectomized at the age of 3 or 14-16 months, one of the ovaries being autologously transplanted into the spleen. The frequency of tumor development in transplanted ovaries was identical in both age groups. Older rats developed ovarian androblastoma earlier and with higher frequency, while granulosa cell tumors of the ovaries prevailed in the younger age group. 35.8% rats with intrasplenic tumours had other neoplasms. Age is thought to be the key factor influencing the proliferative activity of spleen-transplanted ovarian tissues in response to carcinogenic challenge.


Neither law nor democracy can survive where the empire of force dominates. The authors in this book agree that the relation between law and democracy in the U.S. has been deteriorating badly, and that such changes are visible in a wide array of legal and governmental phenomena, such as: legal teaching, judicial opinions, legal practice, international relations, legal scholarship, and congressional deliberations. In each of these legal/political/cultural intersections, traditional expectations and behaviors have been transformed or thwarted, and these changes pose a threat to law and democracy in our country and in our culture.The editors, and the individual authors, trace these specific examples of normative decline to 'the empire of force' (a term borrowed from Simone Weil who applies it not only to the brute force of the kind used by police and soldiers, but, more broadly, to the underlying ways of thinking and talking and imagining that make that sort of force possible, including propaganda, unexamined ideology, sentimental cliches, and politics by buzzwords).The editors and authors of these essays agree not only about the underlying crisis and its causes but also the proposition that neither law nor democracy can survive where the empire of force dominates. Nonetheless, each of the chapters manages to convey a basis for optimism despite its focus on a specific example of legal, political or cultural degeneration.


In this paper we present a concept of interactive learning in an intelligent remote sensing image database that allows users to query by image content. First, an application-free description of the image content is generated at data insertion. This description should globally capture the structures in the image data. Then, in an interactive step, users of different application fields can define their specific semantic labels based on the application-free representation and use them for later database queries. Such a system might help users of all levels of expertise-both experts and novice users-to find images in the archive that are useful for their particular remote sensing application. We briefly review a hierarchical description of the image content and then sketch the basic step of Bayesian inference used for interactive learning. We present one example of this interactive learning taken from our test database consisting of about 1000 small 1024/spl times/1024 images derived from 11 geocoded Landsat TM scenes.


Activities which are implemented in logistic and marketing function often intertwine or overlap in practice, what can often lead to double implementation. Within the framework of this article we will analyse the actual state of implementing activities in companies in correlation with the functional area. Logisticians often define integration within the frame of the aforementioned chain, yet they neglect the internal integration or the integration of particular departments or particular functions in the company. Defining internal integration and its level as well as the connection with the index of the actual implementation of activities is the basis of the research part of this article. The quantitative research part studies whether and to what extent the implementation of activities influences the level of internal integration between the logistic and marketing function. Research is based on quantitative analysis of results which were gained from the questionnaires and were filled out in Slovenian retail companies.


"On the one hand there is the condition of a priceless archive, the body of an irreplaceable copy, a letter or a painting, an absolutely unique event (whose rarity can give rise to surplus value and speculation). But there is also paper as a support or backing for printing, for technical reprinting, and for reproducibility, replacement, prosthesis, and hence also for the industrial commodity, use and exchange value, – and finally for the throwaway object, the abjection of litter." Jacques Derrida, Paper Machine, 2005

This paper will examine the link between "the abjection of litter", the blank page and the potentiality of trash as a point of focus or departure for the production of new forms of creative art writing and artists' publishing.

Particular focus will be given to a selection of artists' books which position the blank page as their primary creative tenet: Point Blank by Kendell Geers (Ghent: Imschoot Uitgevers, 2004), a blank book which has been shot seven times by a gun, and Modern Optical Experiments in Typography: Univers Ultra Light Oblique (1968), by Tim Lee and Mark Soo (Vancouver: Emily Carr Press, 2005), completely blank except for four pages, each printed with one of the words; 'think', 'fast', 'hip', and 'pies'.

These publications are meta-critical in nature, in that they draw attention to the conceits of their own materiality and functionality, calling into question their very use value as books, or as trash? For if a book may not be read, how then may it be used?

The paper will take the form of a conventional academic presentation, inter cut with DOOM KNOTS, 1982 (a piece of original art writing by Maria Fusco), thereby self-reflexively demonstrating its subject.


ABSTRACT From the 1960s onwards, police scholars have accurately documented what patrol officers do when carrying out their job. Their work has been supplemented by miscellaneous publications on police culture, police working styles, and factors influencing police decision-making. Although scholars do recognise the significance of professional freedom, what takes place within this discretionary space to manoeuvre has never been fully studied, especially within the context of predictive policing. We aim to open up the 'black box' of police discretion by offering an empirical study on the everyday patrol work of a predictive policing flex-team (a kind of data-driven flying squad) in Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands. Building on previous literature and on our own insights, we advance a theoretical model of police craftsmanship with particular interest in patrol officer-civilian encounters. This model consists of five, partly overlapping, routine actions: searching for relevant clues, defining a situation, anticipating a situation, dealing with civilians and closing a situation. A deeper insight into such routines will enable patrol officers to reflect on what 'good policing' entails and how to further professionalise their occupation against the complex backdrop of micro-grid crime prevention technology.


Lots of heavy plate mills more than 5m have been in operation, the design of corresponding large ingots becomes crying needs. In this paper, a special method of intensive cooling outside mould has been presented and applied to a designed 80t ingot (4200mm×1100mm×2600mm). Mathematical simulation results tell us that by intensive cooling, the solidification time of the 1100mm rectangular ingot can be shortened into 120min, which is only 1/4 compare with air cooling, internal soundness can be ensured also. The intensive outside cooling process can obviously improve microstructure and preventing skull patch by increasing the thickness of solidified shell.


The Prince Lyell ore deposit consists of disseminated lenses of pyrite and chalcopyrite that are broadly concordant with a sequence of altered felsic-intermediate volcanic rocks. Detailed mapping has indicated that the main mineralized horizon is zoned and the key alteration assemblages from north to south are: (i) pyrite + Mg-chlorites, (ii) pyrite + (Mg-Fe) chlorites, (iii) pyrite + Fe-chlorite + or - minor magnetite, (iv) (Mg-Fe) chlorite + magnetite, and (v) magnetite + barite + Mg-chlorite. In general the pyrite content decreases and magnetite increases from assemblages (i) to (v). The Mg/(Mg + Sigma Fe) ionic ratio in the chlorite varies from 20 in the deposit center to 50 at the margins. The composition of siderite varies sympathetically with that of chlorite.A unit rich in monazite and apatite occurs stratigraphically above this zoned alteration envelope and is followed by a monotonous sequence of fragmental lavas and pyroclastics. The Fe content of phengites decreases from the stratigraphic base of the deposit toward the lower boundary of the phosphatic unit. This gradational sequence from Fe-rich to Fe-poor phengites is repeated from the phosphatic unit into the fragmental volcanics. The Mg/(Mg + Sigma Fe) ionic ratio for phengites is positively correlated with that for chlorite.The alteration assemblages are considered to represent facies of early diagenetic/syngenetic alteration that occurred on or close to the sea floor. Primary compositional variations may have played a vital part in the final alteration assemblage produced. The distribution of high-grade Cu lenses is locally discordant with those alteration assemblages, and temporal relations between the two are unclear.


Early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD): how we can improve the therapeutic approach: PD is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor dysfunctions (tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and impaired posture/ balance) elicited by selective depletion of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta. DA neuron loss is associated with neuronal inclusions of the phosphorylated α-synuclein protein called Lewy body (Shults, 2006). Although the underlying neurodegenerative process is not affected, the management of PD patients has been revolutionized with the introduction of levodopa and DA drugs in the routine therapy, which ensures initial symptomatic relief of motor functions through the DA supply in the nigrostriatal circuit. These drugs are currently the best option for treating PD, although their chronic use is associated with progressive dopamine resistance and loss of effectiveness in the recovery of motor dysfunctions. Alternative therapeutic strategies, including agonists of DA receptors, monoamine oxide B inhibitors, and even deep brain stimulation techniques have been developed to overcome these clinical limitations. Unfortunately, these therapeutic approaches cannot restore PD-compromised functions, as irreversible DA neurodegeneration has occurred in substantia nigra pars compacta when first motor symptoms appear. The nigrostriatal system is traditionally considered as the first region affected by neuronal impairment in Parkinsonisms; however, α-synuclein aggregation appears in a pre-motor stage of the disease in the enteric nervous system (ENS), strongly highlighting an extra-central nervous system (CNS) origin for this neurodegenerative disorder and completely overturning the concept of PD as a central disease. The "ability" of the gut to show the pre-symptomatic evolution of PD is a very fascinating hypothesis to anticipate PD diagnosis and develop more efficient anti-Parkinsonian drugs. In this perspective article, we summarize recent evidence showing enteric glia involvement triggering intestinal neuroinflammation in the asymptomatic stage of PD and improvements in the therapeutic approach that we could achieve by targeting these glial cells.


Contents: Introduction Part I The Role of Legal Theory in the Legal Curriculum: The province of jurisprudence determined a " again!, Hilaire Barnett The democratic intellect and the law, Neil MacCormick The role and place of theory in legal education: reflections on foundationalism, Alan Hunt Pandora's Box: jurisprudence in legal education, Roger Cotterrell. Part II The Teaching of Legal Theory: Teaching feminist legal theory at Texas: listening to difference and exploring connections, Patricia A. Cain Disturbing images: literature in a jurisprudence course, Philip C. Kissam Implications of 'globalisation' for law as a discipline, William Twining Teaching legal ideals through jurisprudence, Seow Hon Tan. Part III Legal Theory and Legal Scholarship: The ethics of legalism, Neil MacCormick Epistemological perspectives in legal theory, Mark Van Hoecke and FranA ois Ost Law, theory and practice: conflicting perspectives?, Andrew Halpin Legal originality, Mathias M. Siems. Part IV Legal Theory and Comparative Law: Critical comparisons: re-thinking comparative law, GA nter Frankenberg Legal cultures, legal paradigms and legal doctrine: towards a new model for comparative law, Mark Van Hoecke and Mark Warrington The jurisprudential approach to comparative law: a field guide to 'rats', William Ewald Comparative law and jurisprudence, Geoffrey Samuel Comparative law as comparative jurisprudence a " the comparability of legal systems, Catherine Valcke Name index.


Microbial communities control numerous biogeochemical processes critical for ecosystem function and health, particularly in coastal ecosystems. However, comparatively little is known about microbial community structure in coastal regions, such that basic patterns of microbial biodiversity, such as species richness and community composition, are generally understudied. To better understand the global patterns of microbial biodiversity in coastal ecosystems, we characterized sediment and seawater microbial communities for three sites near Puerto Nuevo (Baja California, Mexico) using 16S and 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing methods. We found that sediment bacteria, archaea, and eukaryote microbial communities contained approximately 5 × 10^2 fold greater operational taxonomic units (OTUs) than their seawater-based counterparts (p < 0.001). Further, distinct bacterial, archaeal and eukaryal phyla were found in sediment and seawater samples. The phyla Acidobacteria, Chlorobi, and Chloroflexi were found to be abundant and unique to the sediment and Cyanobacteria, Spirochaetae, and Woesearchaeota to the seawater environment. Apicomplexa and Arthropoda were abundant eukaryal phyla found uniquely in the sediment whereas the Cryptomonadales and Protalveolata were detected only in the seawater. Furthermore, bacterial and archaeal communities were statistically different by site (p < 0.05) in both seawater and sediment samples for the Major Outlet site, the site closest to a residential area. In contrast, eukaryal microbial communities were only different among sites in the seawater samples. Overall, these results suggest that our understanding of coastal microbial biodiversity patterns require spatially robust sampling. This study contributes to a growing body of foundational microbial biodiversity and ecology knowledge, providing context to the global change that is induced by urban development.


In April this year, the Bank of England conducted the three-yearly survey of turnover in the UK foreign exchange and over-the-counter (OTC) currency and interest rate derivatives markets, as part of the latest worldwide survey co-ordinated by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The results show that the volume of foreign exchange activity in the United Kingdom has increased by nearly 50% since April 2001. Turnover in OTC derivatives has more than doubled in the same period. This article presents the main results of the UK survey and highlights the effects of developments in foreign exchange and OTC derivatives markets on volumes of activity. It also provides detailed breakdowns of UK survey data and a comparison with global survey results.


We provide results for the valuation of European style contingent claims for a large class of specifications of the underlying asset returns. Our valuation results obtain in a discrete time, infinite state-space setup using the no-arbitrage principle and an equivalent martingale measure. Our approach allows for general forms of heteroskedasticity in returns, and valuation results for homoskedastic processes can be obtained as a special case. It also allows for conditional non-normal return innovations, which is critically important because heteroskedasticity alone does not suffice to capture the option smirk. We analyze a class of equivalent martingale measures for which the resulting risk-neutral return dynamics are from the same family of distributions as the physical return dynamics. In this case, our framework nests the valuation results obtained by Duan (1995) and Heston and Nandi (2000) by allowing for a time-varying price of risk and non-normal innovations. We provide extensions of these results to more general equivalent martingale measures and to discrete time stochastic volatility models, and we analyze the relation between our results and those obtained for continuous time models.


Although melanoma is one of the most studied malignancies, it still remains challenging for biomedicine. Since aberrant glycosylation has been considered as an important hallmark of cancer for many years, melanoma glycomic studies give a chance of better understanding the biology of the disease. The multistage nature of melanoma development, which is accompanied by changes in the expression of adhesion receptors from the integrin family, provides a chance for searching for neoglycoforms of proteins that can be considered as future sensitive melanoma biomarkers. The β1,6-branching, sialylation and fucosylation seem to be important modifications of integrin N-glycans in the case of malignant melanoma progression.


MPI implementations rely mostly on locking to provide thread safety and comply with the MPI standard requirements. Yet despite the large body of literature that targets improving lock scalability and finegrained synchronization, little is known about the arbitration aspect of locking and its effect on MPI implementations. In this paper, we provide an in-depth investigation of the correlation between locking and progress in an MPI runtime. We found that communication progress can be severely hindered when unbounded lock monopolization takes place without yielding work. This situation is common in practice when threads polling for communication progress monopolize an unfair lock, such as a Pthread mutex. We show that FIFO locks can mitigate this issue by circulating the lock among contending threads. In addition, we demonstrate that an adaptive lock that reduces the inference stemming from waiting threads can yield better progress by promoting threads with a higher work potential. Through an extensive comparative evolution of the different locks using benchmarks and applications, we show substantial improvements over the commonly used Pthread mutex approach.


This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch natural phenomena: expanded drawing. The work explores unfixed, intangible conditions within phenomena, conditions at the cusp of awareness, spatially felt as much as known by other means. Through multi-sensory drawing installations, phenomena such as oceanic immensity, seismic latency, and shapeshifting bushfires are sketched. The installations immerse participants within virtual, sculptural, and sonic sketches, intensifying phenomena's abstract presence in a sympoiēsis of human and more-than-human dynamics. Three projects in the series are reflected upon as to their strategies for capturing unfixed conditions in expanded, hybrid sketches. Architectural drawing's traditional openness, material dynamics, and capacity for imaginative projection, are shown to be intensified, through physical and digital sketch media, crossing unfixed drawing with unfixed phenomena.


Ionic liquid supports (ILS) functionalized with carboxylic, alcoholic or amino groups were synthesized, based on 1-methylimidazolium and pyridinium cations, and bromide, chloride, iodide and tetrafluoroborate anions. These reactive ionic liquids were fully characterized by NMR and HRMS. Ionic liquids based on 1-(6-aminohexyl)-3-methylimidazolium iodide have been used in the conditions of peptide chemistry such as coupling and deprotection reactions. A method for attaching (bromophenyl)silanes to the ionic liquid supports was also developed to introduce traceless linkers. An ionic liquid with attached bromobenzene was reacted with ArB(OH)2 under the Suzuki cross-coupling conditions and the resulting compound was cleaved by bromodesilylation with Br2/pyridine to give the substituted products in good yields. The substrate loading of the ILS is high and can be tuned to between 2.5 and 5.0 mmol/g.


Aulos and crotals are two totally different musical instruments. Aulos is a wind instrument, while the crotals are of percussion type. They were preferably played in Egypt during the Graeco-roman period. Aulos αὐλός was widely used in Graeco-roman Egypt and connected with cults of Egyptian deities like Bes, Hathor, Bastet and Harpocates; and Greek and Roman divinities like Dionysus (Bacchus), Athena (Minerva), and Apollo. This can be attested by historians, scenes, terra-cotta figurines and daily writings. However, the oboe (the double pipe musical instrument) had already been known in Pharonic Egypt and represented in many musical scenes in the tombs from at least the New Kingdom. During the Ptolemaic period, the aulos replaced the Egyptian oboe and played a great role in everyday life. As for crotals Κκρόταλα, they were percussion musical instruments already known in Greek and Roman worlds. They had been also known in Egypt since early times and well attested during the Graeco-roman period and played a great role in the Egyptian society then. The research studies the importance of each instrument in Graeco-roman Egypt at the religious and secular levels, through investigating their role in history, mythologies, and art. Moreover, the research also studies the connection between the two instruments and when they were played together in Graecoroman Egypt. The research also results in important roles concerning the two musical instruments; aulos and crotals in  Associate Professor Tourist Guiding Department. Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, -Alexandria University, email@example.com JOURNAL OF The General Union OF Arab Archaeologists (3) ــــــــــــــــــ ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ 71 Graeco-roman Egypt. These roles can be divided in religious ones connected with the cult of different divinities; Egyptian, Greek and Roman; religious festivals, and other roles related to daily life activities.


Using a mesoscopic modelling approach, the authors performed computer experiments to study the influence of polymer density on bipolar charge evolution through thin layers of polydiacetylene (PDA) exhibiting specific microstructures. We found that the competition between charge transport, trapping and recombination within the polymer layer leads to several general trends, some of them being non-intuitive, as one varies polymer density. Our results show that polymer density mainly affects current and recombination efficiencies in the absence of defects or impurity states. The overall trends depend both on chain orientation relative to the electrodes and on the strength of the external applied electric field. These results suggest that adequate modelling of charge transport in electronic and optoelectronic devices based on conducting and semiconducting polymers, such as PDA, must include their structure and related key factors at mesoscopic scale. Such models provide the necessary knowledge-base to optimize the polymer film structure for electronic applications.


Neural disturbance of micturition may occur as a result of a prolapsed intervertebral disc. Single nerve root lesions are unlikely to cause bladder dysfunction; a massive central protrusion producing total blockage of the vertebral canal or multiple disc lesions are more likely to cause disturbance of voiding. High lesions are more prone to cause severe bladder dysfunction. Vesical dysfunction may sometimes be present without the typical back and leg pain. Provided a gynaecological cause is excluded, any young or middle-aged woman developing incontinence and retention with a sterile urine must be fully investigated to exclude a disc lesion. Once the disc has been removed, bladder function will improve, but in some cases recovery will be slow. Rarely some patients have permanent bladder dysfunction following a disc operation.


Zhi-Zi-Hou-Po decoction (ZZHPD) is one of the famous antidepressant Chinese formulas and is composed of Magnolia officinalis cortex (HP), Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (ZZ) and Citrus aurantium L. (ZS). Magnolol (MN) and honokiol (HN) from HP are the major active ingredients responsible for the therapeutic effects of ZZHPD. The aim of this study is to compare the pharmacokinetics and rat brain distribution of MN and HN after oral administration of HP extract and its compatibility with other herbal medicines in ZZHPD by HPLC-FLD. Compared with the HP group, Tmax (time to reach peak drug concentration in plasma) and AUC(0-τ) significantly increased in the ZZHPD and HP-ZZ groups. There was little change in the HP-ZS group in comparison with the HP group, which indicated that ZZ promotes absorption extent and defers the absorption rate of MN. The different compatibility of ZZHPD had a different degree of impact on the concentration of MN and HN in brain. The concentration of MN significantly increased in the HP-ZZ group while it decreased in the HP-ZS group compared with the HP group, which explained the concentration of compounds being slightly greater in the ZZHPD group than in the HP group. HP mixed with other medicines resulted in a decrease in HN concentration in the brain, particularly HP compatible with ZS. The results could be helpful for revealing the compatibility mechanism and providing clinical medication guidance for ZZHPD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. HPLC-FLD; brain distribution; honokiol; magnolol; pharmacodynamics PMID: 26173910 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.3557 Format: Abstract 1 1 1,2 3 1,2 Author information PubMed Full text links Comparative pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of magnol... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26173910 1 of 2 1/17/19, 1:18 AM [Indexed for MEDLINE] Publication type, MeSH terms, Substances LinkOut more resources Comparative pharmacokinetics and brain distribution of magnol... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26173910 2 of 2 1/17/19, 1:18 AM


In 2018-2019, the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office in New Zealand, in partnership with Te Hiranga Ru QuakeCoRE, ran a series of workshops on the five recovery environments (built, cultural, economic, natural and social) to develop the region's recovery framework. To get balanced and diverse perspectives, workshop attendees included representatives from central and local governments, iwi1, community groups, businesses, not-for-profits and academia. This paper uses a case study to highlight the challenges and opportunities of a collective partnership approach to preevent planning. The workshop outputs are used to develop a regional recovery framework and to improve emergency management engagement before and after an emergency event. This paper demonstrates and evaluates a novel approach for engaging stakeholders about pre-event recovery planning. This can guide similar efforts for Civil Defence and Emergency Management agencies in other locations in New Zealand as well as elsewhere.


A case of a medullary osteoidosteoma of the pisiforme bone is presented that appeared as a light bulb on MR-Angiography while causing diffuse hypointensity of the pisiforme bone and of the surrounding soft tissue on T1- and diffuse hyperintensity of these regions on T2-w and T1- w postcontrast images. Although not surprising according to the typical appearance of osteoidostomas on triple phase scintigraphy, the light bulb sign of osteoidosteomas on MRA has not yet been reported and familiarity with this findings may be of value in order to avoid their confusion with vascular lesions such as aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms during MR-angiography.


: The blood of schizophrenic patients compared to that of normals contain 3, 4 times more adhesive lymphocytes. A blood analysis of 59 schizophrenic patients demonstrated that approximately 60% of the patients have a high content of such cells. Among the adhesive lymphocytes there are 5 times more activated, 3 times more wide plasmatic, but twice less narrow plasmatic lymphocytes compared to normals. According to the indices of adhesivity and according to ultrastructure signs it was found that the lymphocytes of schizophrenic patients react weaker to PHA than the lymphocytes of normals. It is assumed that the blood of schizophrenic patients contains biologically active substances, which bring on an increase of adhesive properties in the lymphocytes and their physiological activation.


Super-resolution (SR) reconstruction technique is capable of producing a high-resolution image from a sequence of low-resolution images. In this paper, we study an efficient SR algorithm for digital video. To effectively deal with the intractable problems in SR video reconstruction, such as inevitable motion estimation errors, noise, blurring, missing regions, and compression artifacts, the total variation (TV) regularization is employed in the reconstruction model. We use the fixed-point iteration method and preconditioning techniques to efficiently solve the associated nonlinear Euler-Lagrange equations of the corresponding variational problem in SR. The proposed algorithm has been tested in several cases of motion and degradation. It is also compared with the Laplacian regularization-based SR algorithm and other TV-based SR algorithms. Experimental results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.


In Denmark, drinking water is not disinfected with chemicals such as chlorine, which makes
the product water sustainable, environmentally friendly, and safe for the consumer. Thus, as
no disinfection is used, unwanted microbial growth in the water distribution system needs to
be controlled by keeping nutrient concentrations during distribution low. Ammonium (NH4
+) is
one nutrient of concern, and is typically removed in biologically active sand filters, during
water treatment. The removal process is called nitrification, conducted by microorganisms
which need nutrients to metabolize the NH4
+. Hence, if nutrients are already too low during
treatment, NH4
+ removal can be incomplete, subsequently endangering water quality during
distribution. The aim of this project was to investigate if addition of selected nutrients to
biological sand filter columns could improve biological NH4
+ removal from drinking water.


Recent sociological work shows that culture is an important causal variable in labor market outcomes. Does the same hold for product markets? To answer this question, we study a product market in which selection decisions occur absent face-to-face interaction between intermediaries and short-term contract workers. We find evidence of "product-based" cultural matching operating as a pathway to inequality. Relying on quantitative and qualitative observational data and semi-structured interviews with intermediaries in trade fiction publishing, we show intermediaries culturally match themselves to manuscripts as a normal feature of doing "good work." We propose three organizational conditions under which "encultured biases" come to the fore in product selection, and a fourth resulting in inequalities along demographic lines and other markers of perceived cultural proximity and distance. We close with a discussion of other settings in which product-based cultural matching is likely to occur, call for the investigation of cultural matching beyond previously theorized conditions, and argue for the inclusion of cultural products in the broader movement toward reconsidering culture as a causal factor.