This study analyses the citizenship experiences of young non-western migrants in the Netherlands. Young migrants are in a disadvantaged position in education and in the labour market and this leads to concerns about their integration in Dutch society. The focus of this study is on the participation of migrant youngsters in education, in which an analysis of the experiences and perspectives on education and future labour market participation of migrant youngsters themselves are the central objectives. The expectation is that the experiences of young migrants are influenced by their disadvantaged socio-economic background, social networks, practices of exclusion, social policies, the harsh policy climate, and the negative public debate about migrants in Dutch society. This study also aims to explain the pronounced gender differences that can be observed: migrant girls outperform migrant boys in education, but in comparison they are less active in the labour market. This study is unique in the sense that the experiences of the migrant youngsters themselves are investigated. This was done by conducting a mixed-method study, in which extensive qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Furthermore, this is a practice-based study, which means the study is relevant from scientific and from societal perspectives. One of the main results of this study is that young migrants experience school in a very positive way. They have a high school satisfaction and are very ambitious about finishing an education at a high level. The support of their social network is very important for young migrants; active communication with their parents and siblings showed to influence their school satisfaction in a positive way. This study furthermore showed that young migrants in the Netherlands are optimistic, and believe that they can seize the opportunities in education and work that Dutch society offers them, even when they know that, for instance, discrimination is working against them. This does not mean however that a minority is losing their way, and this group tends to symbolise the prejudices against this group. Social policies and projects for drop-outs take care of this group, however this study shows that some measures have unintended negative consequences for the youngsters. Migrant youth who, despite setbacks on the home front and the general social climate in education and the labour market, do generally attempt to make a future for themselves, believing that they can succeed where their parents did not. The figures show that increasing numbers of young migrants are participating in education and the labour market, and this is reason for hope, even though social circumstances are still adverse. It can be said in general that migrant youngsters are making steps forward – a fact supported by the figures, and they are making more progress than their parents did. This study showed that, despite obstacles and the changing discourse in the Netherlands, migrant youngsters are optimistic and resilient.


Abstract In four experiments, lactating Holstein cows were used to evaluate the nutritive value of corn silages treated with organic acids. Propionic, formic, and acetic acid treatment of silage with medium dry matter (34 to 39%) in two experiments slightly increased silage intake but had little effect on milk yields. However, addition of propionic acid to silages with high dry matter (42 to 47%) in three experiments increased silage intake 12%, total intake 6%, and milk yields 5%. Formic acid added to high dry matter silages was less effective than propionic in increasing intakes. Decreasing dry matter of silage from 43% to 36% with water added at ensiling did not improve intakes or milk yields. Propionic treatment decreased silage temperatures during fermentation and feeding and lowered fungal counts of silage exposed to air. Normal concentrations of lactic and acetic acids and pH values resulted from propionic treatment. Propionic treatment of high dry matter silage appeared profitable.


The Second Sophistic (c.AD 60-250) was a time of intense competition for honour and status. Like today, this often caused mental as well as physical stress for the elite of the Roman Empire. This book, which transcends the boundaries between literature, social history, and philosophy, studies Plutarch's practical ethics, a group of twenty-odd texts within the Moralia designed to help powerful Greeks and Romans manage their ambitions and society's expectations successfully. Lieve Van Hoof combines a systematic analysis of the general principles underlying Plutarch's practical ethics, including the author's target readership, therapeutical practices, and self-presentation, with five innovative case studies. A picture emerges of philosophy under the Roman Empire not as a set of abstract, theoretical doctrines, but as a kind of symbolic capital engendering power and prestige for author and reader alike.


Recent research has rejuvenated centuries-old traditional herbs to cure various ailments by using modern tools like diet-based therapy and other regimens. Ginger is one of the classic examples of an herb used for not only culinary preparations but also for unique therapeutic significance owing to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory potential. The pungent fractions of ginger, namely gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and volatile constituents like sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes, are mainly attributed to the health-enhancing perspectives of ginger. This review elucidates the health claims of ginger and the molecular aspects and targets, with special reference to anticancer perspectives, immunonutrition, antioxidant potential, and cardiovascular cure. The molecular targets involved in chemoprevention like the inhibition of NF-κB activation via impairing nuclear translocation, suppresses cIAP1 expression, increases caspase-3/7 activation, arrests cell cycle in G2 + M phases, up-regulates Cytochrome-c, Apaf-1, activates PI3K/Akt/I kappaB kinases IKK, suppresses cell proliferation, and inducts apoptosis and chromatin condensation. Similarly, facts are presented regarding the anti-inflammatory response of ginger components and molecular targets including inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis and suppression of 5-lipoxygenase. Furthermore, inhibition of phosphorylation of three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) are also discussed. The role of ginger in reducing the extent of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes mellitus, and digestive problems has also been described in detail. Although, current review articles summarized the literature pertaining to ginger and its components. However, authors are still of the view that further research should be immediately carried out for meticulousness.


Abstract After Louis XTVs banishment of the Comedie-Italienne in 1697, its costumes and masks became increasingly fashionable among a public disenchanted with absolutist politics. This article reveals the manner in which the plots, characters, and subversive satire of the Comedie-Italienne inform two ballets of Andre Campra, Le Carnaval de Venise (1699) and Les Feetes venitiennes (1710). Following the satiric strategies used by the Comedie-Italienne, Campra and his librettists employ an exotic Venetian setting as a mask for the libertine entertainments of a French public sphere. Reversing the ideology of Louis XIVs courtly feetes, they deconstruct his official image in three ways: through a literary web of allusion, satire, and parody; through an Italianate musical style that serves to undermine the French language of absolutism; and through the thematic celebration of a new public audience as the subversive heir to the royal prerogative of pleasure.


Rose clover (Trifolium hirtum All) cultivars with long-season (November through May) forage production and cold tolerance are needed to increase pasture availability during the winter in northeast Texas. More information about the genetic and environmental control of rose clover flowering is warranted, before this trait can be manipulated through plant breeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variability for flowering traits in the U.S. Plant Introduction Collection of rose clover. Sixty-six accessions of rose clover, from eight different countries, were evaluated. Observations recorded on individual plants at 4-d intervals included first elongation of internodes, first bud, first flower, first color, full bloom, and mature seed. In general, rose clover behaved as a long-day plant and flowered in photoperiods from 12 to 14h. Thirty-one rose clover lines were identified within the maturity range of 172 to 182 days of the year (DOY) to full bloom, twenty-seven were identified within the maturity range of 162 to 170 DOY to full bloom, only five rose clover lines reached full bloom in less than 162 DOY, and only three took more than 183 DOY. There was a range of 40 d difference in time to reach maturity for the rose clover germplasm studied. Utilizing principal component analysis and cluster analysis, the germplasm was separated into three different maturing groups: early, midseason, and late maturity groups.


Background The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and examine the factors associated with reproductive desire among women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) in Central Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 274 WLWHA, aged 18 to 49 years, was conducted with the support of treatment services and non-governmental organizations that assist people living with HIV/AIDS. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, sexual behavior, and reproductive variables were collected through interviews. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to analyze the factors associated with reproductive desire. Results The prevalence of reproductive desire was 25.9% (95.0% confidence interval [CI]: 21.1–31.4%). This outcome was associated with age < 30 years (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 2.93; p < 0.001), black skin color or race (APR: 2.28; p = 0.017), partner's reproductive desire (APR: 7.55; p < 0.001), absence of children (APR: 2.13; p = 0.003), history of abortion (APR: 1.65; p = 0.045) and undetectable viral load at the time of data collection (APR: 1.92; p = 0.043). Conclusion The prevalence of reproductive desire among WLWHA was relatively high. It is necessary to include fertility issues as part of assistance and counseling for women in referral services to support them with their feelings, goals, and needs regarding reproductive choices.


[1] The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was caused by a drilling rig explosion on 20 April 2010 that killed 11 people. It was the largest oil spill in U.S. history and presented an unprecedented threat to Gulf of Mexico marine resources. Although oil gushing to the surface diminished after the well was capped, on 15 July 2010, much remains to be known about the oil and the dispersants beneath the surface, including their trajectories and effects on marine life. A system for tracking the oil, both at the surface and at depth, was needed for mitigation efforts and ship survey guidance. Such a system was implemented immediately after the spill by marshaling numerical model and satellite remote sensing resources available from existing coastal ocean observing activities [e.g., Weisberg et al., 2009]. Analyzing this system's various strengths and weaknesses can help further improve similar systems designed for other emergency responses.


This paper develops Bayesian methodology for estimating long‐term trends in the daily maxima of tropospheric ozone. The methods are then applied to study long‐term trends in ozone at six monitoring sites in the state of Texas. The methodology controls for the effects of meteorological variables because it is known that variables such as temperature, wind speed and humidity substantially affect the formation of tropospheric ozone. A semiparametric regression model is estimated in which a nonparametric trivariate surface is used to model the relationship between ozone and these meteorological variables because, while it is known that the relatinship is a complex nonlinear one, its functional form is unknown. The model also allows for the effects of wind direction and seasonality. The errors are modeled as an autoregression, which is methodologically challenging because the observations are unequally spaced over time. Each function in the model is represented as a linear combination of basis functions located at all of the design points. We also estimate an appropriate data transformation simulataneously with the functions. The functions are estimated nonparametrically by a Bayesian hierarchical model that uses indicator variables to allow a non‐zero probability that the coefficient of each basis term is zero. The entire model, including the nonparametric surfaces, data transformation and autoregression for the unequally spaced errors, is estimated using a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling scheme with a computationally efficient transition kernel for generating the indicator variables. The empirical results indicate that key meteorological variables explain most of the variation in daily ozone maxima through a nonlinear interaction and that their effects are consistent across the six sites. However, the estimated trends vary considerably from site to site, even within the same city.


The term "agribusiness" first appeared in Davis and Goldbergs' (1957) seminal book titled "A concept of Agribusiness", which described three distinct yet interdependent sectors in a global food system. These include suppliers of agricultural inputs, producers of agricultural commodities, and institutions that perform the functional aspects associated with marketing food and fiber products. Fundamental to the concept of agribusiness is that many problems related to agriculture are interrelated and dependent upon political, sociological, economic and behavioral factors. In this special issue of the journal, we argue that the "field of agribusiness" is inherently a "scientifically pluralistic" endeavor to which efforts to define it as an academic discipline is not useful. In the introductory paper that follows, we provide a brief commentary about each of the articles featured in this special issue and discuss the opportunities and challenges of scientific pluralism for agribusiness research, teaching and extension.


Boron-doped diamond (BDD) is reportedly a good electrode material for the electroreduction of CO2 to produce formaldehyde with high Faradaic efficiency. In this study, BDD electrodes were modified with a platinum-iridium composite (Pt-Ir). Deposition of Pt-Ir on the surface of BDD was performed by two different methods. One method involved the modification of the BDD surface, wherein terminal-H atoms were substituted with N atoms. The N-terminal BDD was then immersed in a Pt–Ir nanoparticle solution to form Pt–Ir–BDD (1). The Pt–Ir nanoparticles were synthesized from a 3:4 molar ratio mixture of H2PtCl6 and K2IrCl6 by a hydrothermal method. Characterization of Pt–Ir nanoparticles by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) image showed an absorbance peak at 420 nm with an average particle size of 2.6±0.6 nm. In the second method, Pt-Ir was deposited onto BDD using chemically assisted electrodeposition by applying a reduction potential of −0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) to form Pt–Ir–BDD (2). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed that the second method provides better distribution of Pt–Ir on the BDD surface. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry of CO2, dissolved in 0.1 M NaCl showed a reduction potentials at −1.7, −1.3, and −1.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) at BDD, Pt–Ir–BDD (1) and Pt– Ir–BDD (2), respectively, indicating that modification with Pt–Ir allows the conversion of CO2 with higher Faradaic efficiency.


Abstract Aims were: to compare burden experienced by affected family members (AFMs) attending a problem gambling treatment clinic in London, England with that of AFMs affected by substance problems; to examine socio-demographic correlates of AFM burden; to evaluate change following an intervention designed for AFMs; and to test the assumption of the stress-strain-coping-support (SSCS) model that change in AFM coping is important. AFMs (N = 215) completed a gambling version of the short questionnaire for family members affected by addiction (SQFM-AA) which assesses stressful impact, symptoms of ill health, ways of coping, social support and overall burden. All received a 5-Step Method workbook, based on the SSCS model. The SQFM-AA was repeated three to six months later (n = 96). T-test analyses showed that baseline burden and related variables were comparable to those of family members affected by substance problems, were greater for wives and those living in the same household as the gambling relative, and were significantly reduced at follow-up. Regression modelling indicated the importance, for AFMs' health, of reduced levels of engaged-emotional coping. Family members affected by gambling, some subgroups especially, experience high levels of burden. They can benefit from a model-based intervention, and coping change may be an important process.


abstract:Over the past decade, digital humanities scholarship has developed dramatically in Anglosphere universities. However, elsewhere such as China Mainland, little interest is yet visible in this scholarship. Still controversial over its methodology and epistemology, and too early to predict its future, digital humanities scholars have made respectful and encouraging commitments and accomplishments. The self-protection of humanities from further marginalization, through intersection with and integration of techno-humanities, is in line with the well-established value of innovation and the ubiquitous needs of social improvement. From both a macro and micro perspective, the author of this article contends that digital humanities scholarship can contribute to the humanities as a whole, by expanding comparative literature studies with data-based empiricism. However, as a new approach to comparative literature, digital humanities is still in its fledgling stage and faces a slew of challenges: inadequate involvement from humanities scholars, undefined boundaries within humanities disciplines, lack of global recognition, and immature theoretical models to propel future research.


Hydroxyapatite [HA; Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] which composes inorganic phase of bones and teeth is one of the biomedical materials for artificial bone, reconstruction of broken or disordered bones, coating of metallic biomedical materials and dental surgery with its great biocompatibility. In this study, HA powders were synthesized from aqueous suspensions containing H3PO4 and Ca(OH)2 with 1.67 Ca/P ratios (chemical HA, CHA) and second process is carried out in simulated body fluids consisting of (NH4)2HPO4 and Ca(NO3)2·4H2O as biomimetic hydroxyapatite (BHA). Moreover, properties of bovine HA (BoHA) and commercial HA (CoHA) were compared with properties of synthesized HA powders. Chemical structures of synthesized powders have been examined by the Fourier transform infrared technique and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that BHA powders have a pure HA content and no secondary phase, CHA also has monetite phase as secondary phase with HA in its structure. Particle size analysis was carried out with laser particle sizer and zeta-sizer, surface area of powders has been analyzed by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique. Powder morphology is determined using scanning electron microscopy. As a result two different synthesis methods affected properties of HA powders.


Jatropha curcas L. oil has been shown to be suitable for the production of biodiesel. However, this species has not been domesticated yet. Genetic breeding through conventional methods is time consuming and costly, hence, genetic transformation could contribute positively to the improvement of interesting traits. Although in vitro regeneration and stable genetic transformation has been pursued for several years, variation in transformation efficiency remains strongly genotype-dependent and indicates that protocols optimization is still needed. Thus, this study was carried out to introduce a chitinase gene from the Trichoderma viride fungus into the genome of a J. curcas superior genotype by inoculating leaf explants with Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA 105 strain in axenic conditions. Some key parameters such as pre-culture period and antibiotic doses were optimized with 500 mg.L-1 cefotaxime and 100 mg.L-1 kanamycin concentrations being suitable for A. tumefaciens inhibition and explant selection, respectively. The best transformation efficiency (50%) was obtained when leaf explants were incubated on a culture medium promoting shoot regeneration at 15 days before the induction of the transformation process. Plants where chitinase gene amplicons could be detected were assessed for transgene copy number and expression levels by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One, two and three copies of the introduced gene were confirmed in nine transgenic lines with two of them that were assessed for gene expression and showed quantitative variation for this variable. These results bring valuable information for further gene insertions in breeding programs of J. curcas for fungal disease resistance.


Background This study does is increase in acts of adultery as a form of behavior that deviates from God's guidance, and the development of new forms of adultery as a result of the development of science and technology, as well as community action in resolving acts of adultery that do not use the legal basis of Article 284 of the Criminal Code but using religious values and traditional values.The importance of this study to find of good formulation about offence adultery was comform with values of Indonesian people. Therefore, this study aims to describe, analyze and explain about how the public's under standing of the meaning of adultery, attitudes and actions taken to resolve adultery and sanctions against the offenders. In addition,this study describes and analyzes the government's policy for legal development through adultery offense improvement. Further more, this study aim to find ideal adultery offense policy formulation construction based on the
values of Pancasila and the development of science and technology.
In this study, the law is not only conceptualized as provisions governing human behavior, but the law also conceptualized as a form of people's behavior, therefore, the author is trying to under stand and delvedeeper into the meaning of people's behavior in
completing acts of adultery. In addition, the author is trying to understand and explore the government policies that have been made in tackling acts of adultery. Therefore, the paradigm used in this study is socio-legal constructivism approach. The data obtained will be assessed using a hermeneutic, phenomenology, comparative and policies approach.
The findings show that: 1) The government has made the renewal of the offense of adultery, which is explicitly contained in the National KUHP Concept/Draft, and
implicitly contained in the Child Protection Act, the Pornography Act, the Film Act and ITE Act. In the draft Penal Code of 2012, acts of adultery as a crime on complaint relative used in a broad sense. While limitation adultery is sexual intercourse / sexual
intercourse is not in a valid marriage between men and women. The limit of adultery in the Pornography Act, including also sexual relations with men and with animals. 2) Based on the formulation of the offense of adultery as stated in Article 284 of the Criminal Code that is not fully accommodate the values in Indonesian society, resulting in Indonesian society in solving the basic acts of adultery using religious values and
customs because people feel more able to get real justice (perfect Justisce ), due to the completion of the religious values and customs using principles of balance, which includes a balance between the interests of victims and perpetrators, the individual with society, the natural microcosm with the macrocosm nature. 3) reconstruction of the offense of adultery policy formulation in creating legal certainty and justice Pancasila accommodate acts of adultery as a result of science and technology development can be done by using a scientific approach, which include religious approach, humanistic, democration, and policy approaches, in which the approach is legal pluralism according to Winer Mensky.
Keywords: Reconstruction of policy formulation, Adultery, Pancasila, science and technology, legal pluralism


Neurocardiogenic syncope is an entity with significant prevalence and incidence. Although with low mortality, it has negative implications in the quality of life of these patients. Today, there are international guidelines for the diagnosis of syncope, and tilt testing has been accepted as a useful diagnostic test, particularly in recurrent syncope of unknown etiology. Several protocols have been described in the last years, first including a passive phase only and later with the introduction of provocative agents, from which sub-lingual nitrates are the most widely accepted due to the simplified protocol and good results. The use of tilt testing in the evaluation of the treatment results is limited due to problems related with it's reproducibility, that are however the base for a treatment option recently available--tilt training--however with variable success rates. In this review, we will talk about clinical practice aspects related with tilt testing.


Thrombocytopenia is a common complication of both chronic liver disease and liver transplantation (LT). The mechanism of thrombocytopenia is multifactorial implicating not only sequestration in the spleen, or in the graft, reduction in the mean platelet survival but also decreased platelet production due to low synthesis of thrombopoietin (TPO) or direct toxicity to the bone marrow. Platelets play a dualistic role in liver transplant, both beneficial and detrimental. The beneficial role of platelets is due to platelet-derived serotonin that is involved in liver regeneration. During surgery for liver transplant, in addition to the preoperative causes for thrombocytopenia, we have other mechanisms that will contribute to further deterioration of the platelets count and function: hemodilution, immunological reactions, and sequestration in the newly transplanted graft. This might result in a life-threatening level of thrombocytes. The concern is when we should treat thrombocytopenia because despite life-saving benefits, transfusion has also been related to complications and platelet transfusion has been identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. Risks related to platelet concentrate administration are allergic reactions, alloimmunization, bacterial sepsis, and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). Administration of platelets is not indicated if there is no bleeding or immediate bleeding risk. New emerging therapies like thrombopoietin-receptor agonist will furthermore limit the administration of blood products.


This guide presents a selection of basic sources in Justice Studies which are available at Adams Library or accessible on the Web


It is well established that inlet flow characteristics may affect the performance of fluid handling systems considerably. This work focuses on the local flow analysis of a severe service control valve with a continuous resistance trim (CRT) operating under multiphase flow conditions and the effect of the inlet flow characteristics on the dispersed phase distribution within the trim and the valve flow coefficient Cv. Three dimensional CFD models, using both the mixture model and turbulence model k-omega SST, were used to simulate the flow within valve body and trim assembly under multiphase conditions. It is shown in this work that the dispersed phase distribution in the trim is strongly affected by the valve inlet conditions and thus affecting its performance. However, the valve flow coefficient is barely affected by the inlet flow conditions.


Abstract : Passive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar is a sensor network comprised of multiple distributed receivers that detects and localizes targets using the emissions from multiple non-cooperative radio frequency transmitters. This dissertation advances the theory of centralized passive MIMO radar (PMR) detection by proposing two novel generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detectors. The first addresses detection in PMR networks without direct-path signals. The second addresses detection in PMR networks with direct-path signals. The probability distributions of both test statistics are investigated using recent results from random matrix theory. Equivalence is established between PMR networks without direct-path signals and passive source localization (PSL) networks. Comparison of both detectors with a centralized GLRT for active MIMO radar (AMR) detection reveals that PMR may be interpreted as the link between AMR and PSL sensor networks. In particular, under high direct-path-tonoise ratio (DNR) conditions, PMR sensitivity and ambiguity approaches that of AMR. Under low-DNR conditions, PMR sensitivity and ambiguity approaches that of PSL. At intermediate DNRs, PMR sensitivity and ambiguity smoothly varies between that of AMR and PSL. In this way, PMR unifies PSL and AMR within a common theoretical framework. This result provides insight into the fundamental natures of active and passive distributed sensing.


Medical researches have reported that unobvious symptoms in the early stage of ovarian cancer results in the very low survival rate of patients. It is often in the last stage of ovarian cancer when patients discover the illness. Distinguishing early stage's cancer cells between benign and malignant tumors is quite different from one doctor to another such that diagnostic results are often varied. It is mainly due to the lack of unified diagnosis systems on ovarian tumors. In this paper we present a sonography ovarian tumor system with case exchange, called SOT-CE. SOTS, the front end of the SOTS-CE, provide drawing and text tools to annotate critical tumor features on sonography. The blood condition of each annotated suspected tumor area can be statistically analyzed to trace the growth of a tumor by the skewness and kurtosis of the distribution of the Color Doppler Vascularity Indices (CDVI). A scoring system is also developed in SOTS to definitely differentiate between benign and malignant tumors based on values of the various tumor features. In addition, we exploit ISO/IEC Multimedia Content Description Interface MPEG-7 to develop standard case descriptions of sonography ovarian tumors, in which unified tags for searching ovarian tumor cases are defined. We also present the case exchange system, the back-end of SOT-CE, to support inter/intra hospital case sharing. The case exchange mechanism is established based on Web Services. The SOTS-CE is aimed at providing the mechanism and standard exchange interface to expedite collecting clinical ovarian tumor cases so that the Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of diagnosing ovarian tumors can be further improved.


The sub-Absaroka unconformity in the U.S. Eastern Interior basin is characterized by a series of entrenched paleovalleys. Structural control of the paleovalleys resulting from the reactivation of basement features in the southeastern part of the basin is indicated by (1) parallelism of paleovalleys to faulting, (2) diversions of paleovalley trends corresponding to fault intersections, (3) facies changes in paleovalley-fill deposits and paleovalley geometry across fault blocks, (4) near-rectangular paleodrainage patterns, (5) channeling on horsts, (6) paleocurrents parallel to faulting, (7) diversion of a paleovalley against paleoslope and parallel to the strike of the Webster syncline, and (8) paleocolluvial and paleoslump deposits along fault-bounded valley walls.


During their service life, pavements are influenced by the various environmental and traffic conditions. In order to better characterize the effects of these conditions, both field and lab tests are required. Such a characterization should focus on both pavement material properties, as well as reaction of the pavement structure to the destructive processes that occur during the pavements service life. To accelerate pavement damage and to shorten the test time, pavements are subjected to repeated load applications simulating traffic conditions. This paper presents the benefits and limitations related to the Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) facilities, including linear and circular track facilities, test roads (tracks) and mobile load simulators. Selected APTs, located in the USA and in other countries are compared. In addition, a brief historical overview is presented in conjunction with the researcher's personal experience.


Objective: To review prenatal ultrasound (US) findings in fetuses with lissencephaly. Methods: We identified 16 fetuses with lissencephaly who had US at our institution between 1993 and 2002. Lissencephaly was diagnosed by prenatal/postnatal MRI and/or autopsy. There were 6 cases of Miller-Dieker syndrome and 10 Walker-Warburg syndrome. US examinations performed at 15–41 weeks gestation were reviewed by 2 radiologists. For cortical development, we evaluated the Sylvian, parieto-occipital and calcarine fissures, the cingulate sulcus and the sulci over the cerebral convexity. If the appropriate cranial US images had been obtained, but one or more of these sulci or fissures were not visualized at the expected gestational age or their appearance is abnormal for gestational age, cortical development was considered delayed. Differences of opinion were discussed, and a final consensus achieved. Results: One or more cranial abnormalities were found in all 16 fetuses. Ventriculomegaly was present in 12 fetuses (75%), isolated in 3 and associated with other findings in 9. Five fetuses at 15–21 weeks had normal cortical appearance for gestational age. In the 11 remaining fetuses, 9 demonstrated 2 or more findings of delayed cortical development and 2 demonstrated 1 finding. Lissencephaly could be suspected as early as 23 weeks. Delayed cortical development was seen in 2 fetuses with isolated mild ventriculomegaly. Other cranial findings were Dandy-Walker complex (5), microcephaly (2) and miscellaneous (4). Extracranial findings (including eye and facial abnormalities) were seen in 9 fetuses. Conclusions: In lissencephaly, the most common prenatal US finding is ventriculomegaly. It is important to differentiate lissencephaly, which has a poor prognosis, from isolated mild ventriculomegaly. Familiarity with the normal US patterns of fetal cortical development can lead to the early suspicion of lissencephaly, which would warrant further investigations including MRI.


Objective To detect antibodies for lens βH-crystallins in the serum from the American Cocker Spaniel (ACS) presenting with and without cataracts and with and without uveitis. Animal Studied Seventy-three American Cocker Spaniels and six normal Beagles. Procedures Sera were collected from 73 ACSs, including those with normal lenses and those with cataracts, or uveitis. Fractionated, normal Beagle lens βH-crystallins were separated by one- or two-dimensional electrophoresis. The separated lens βH-crystallins were used on immunoblots as sentinel substrates against which the ACS sera were tested for the presence of antibodies against βH-crystallins. Results Sera from approximately two-thirds of study animals contained antibodies to some βH-crystallin polypeptides, but reactivity varied among patients. Contrary to some hypotheses, serum antibodies to groups of βH-crystallins did not relate to the stages of cataract. However, detailed analysis by two-dimensional immunoblotting and mass spectrometry showed that three spots originating from βA1-crystallin were detected only in sera from cataract patients. Conclusion Serum antibodies to βA1-crystallin may be associated with the development of cataract.


The LMS-based adaptive non-uniformity correction (NUC) technique, known in the literature as Scribner's algorithm, is an efficient method to mitigate the presence of fixed pattern noise in video sequences acquired by thermal cameras. Unfortunately, ghosting artefacts can be generated from the process of NUC depending on the edges that characterise the scene inside the sensor's field of view. Introduced is a de-ghosting technique based on the computation of the statistics of the error signal employed in the Scribner's algorithm. Such a technique is characterised by a small computational load which is the most important requirement for real-time applications. Experimental results demonstrate its good performance and de-ghosting capabilities.


Ureterorenoscopy (URS) is usually a safe procedure without any complications. Ureteric avulsion is the most dreaded complication of URS. Most urologists do not have experience in management of ureteric avulsion injuries. Inappropriate management can lead to nephrectomy. Here we are discussing our experience and possible leading factors of this catastrophic complication. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical notes, imaging records, and laboratory investigations of four patients who have been managed for ureteric avulsion in our center during a 12-year period (2008 - 2019). Two cases of lower ureteric avulsion were managed with immediate ureterocystoplasty. Out of which one patient underwent nephroureterectomy. Two cases with total ureteric avulsion were managed with delayed ileal replacement and psoas hitch with Boari flap reconstruction, respectively. During minimum follow-up period of 1 year, no evidence of deterioration in renal function was noted. Use of small caliber scope, proper handling of instruments and minimum forceful manipulation can prevent ureteric avulsion. In experienced hands it can be managed without the requirement of nephrectomy. World J Nephrol Urol. 2020;9(2):45-51 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/wjnu417


We represent the Z2?> topological invariant characterizing a one-dimensional topological superconductor using a Wess–Zumino–Witten dimensional extension. The invariant is formulated in terms of the single-particle Green's function which allows us to classify interacting systems. Employing a recently proposed generalized Berry curvature method, the topological invariant is represented independent of the extra dimension requiring only the single-particle Green's function at zero frequency of the interacting system. Furthermore, a modified twisted boundary conditions approach is used to rigorously define the topological invariant for disordered interacting systems.


The multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) encoded by ABCC1 was originally discovered as a cause of multidrug resistance in tumor cells. However, it is now clear that MRP1 serves a broader role than simply mediating the ATP-dependent efflux of drugs from cells. The antioxidant GSH and the pro-inflammatory cysteinyl leukotriene C4 have been identified as key physiological organic anions effluxed by MRP1, and an ever growing body of evidence indicates that additional lipid-derived mediators are also substrates of this transporter. As such, MRP1 is a multitasking transporter that likely influences the etiology and progression of a host of human diseases.


Our clinical experience witness the necessity of administration of direct anticoagulants in prophylactic dosage to patients, operated on for gastro-intestinal bleeding. The most effective and secure is preparation of the low molecular weight fractionized heparins group--Fraxparin. The summarized data concerning group of patients, in whom Fraxyparin was applied, witness the absence of unfavourable peak of effect after the preparation injection, gradual action and holding on of the interinjection time plato, the absence of significant additive noncontrollable action of Fraxparin after each subsequent injection made.


Copy number expansions such as amplifications and duplications contribute to human phenotypic variation, promote molecular diversification during evolution, and drive the initiation and/or progression of various cancers. The mechanisms underlying these copy number changes are still incompletely understood, however. We recently demonstrated that transient, limited re-replication from a single origin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae efficiently induces segmental amplification of the re-replicated region. Structural analyses of such re-replication induced gene amplifications (RRIGA) suggested that RRIGA could provide a new mechanism for generating copy number variation by non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR). Here we elucidate this new mechanism and provide insight into why it is so efficient. We establish that sequence homology is both necessary and sufficient for repetitive elements to participate in RRIGA and show that their recombination occurs by a single-strand annealing (SSA) mechanism. We also find that re-replication forks are prone to breakage, accounting for the widespread DNA damage associated with deregulation of replication proteins. These breaks appear to stimulate NAHR between re-replicated repeat sequences flanking a re-initiating replication origin. Our results support a RRIGA model where the expansion of a re-replication bubble beyond flanking homologous sequences followed by breakage at both forks in trans provides an ideal structural context for SSA–mediated NAHR to form a head-to-tail duplication. Given the remarkable efficiency of RRIGA, we suggest it may be an unappreciated contributor to copy number expansions in both disease and evolution.


Commercialized sport was one of the growth points of economy at the phase of industrial revolution in the late Victorian era. A substantial rise in working-class spending power, growing urbanization, and a concentration of free time into Saturday afternoons all encouraged the marketing of spectator sports, and in response throughout Britain sport promoters and sport club executives enclosed grounds, erected stadia and charged gate money. It was the way for keeping away from monotonous life. Sports economy came to be developed in the western world following the availability of increased leisure with the working class after World War II. Countries who predominantly played cricket, were left out of the advantages which a developing sports economy could offer largely because the Boards of Cricket in these countries lived off the patronage of the state and aristocracy and the game itself was played largely in erstwhile British Colonies who would be looking up to the Cricket Boards in Australia and England to take a lead. These Boards were content in imagining their supremacy in the game and looked open-handedly at the colonies playing game as best.


The COVID-19 pandemic has upended daily life around the globe, posing a threat to public health. Intuitively, we expect that surging cases and deaths would lead to fear, distress and other negative emotions. However, using state-of-the-art methods to measure sentiment, emotions, and moral concerns in social media messages posted in the early stage of the pandemic, we see a counter-intuitive rise in positive affect. We hypothesize that the increase of positivity is associated with a decrease of uncertainty and emotion regulation. Finally, we identify a partisan divide in moral and emotional reactions that emerged after the first US death. Overall, these results show how collective emotional states have changed since the pandemic began, and how social media can provide a useful tool to understand, and even regulate, diverse patterns underlying human affect.


Introduction The rhetoric of Palliative Care encompasses physical, psychological, social and spiritual domains.1 However, this last element is often the most contentious in both definition and application2–4 and has often been neglected in practice to the detriment of patient quality of life.5–7 Aim Despite evidence that significant numbers of patients wish to discuss spirituality with their healthcare team,8–10 and a corporate commitment to spiritual care11 an audit of practice locally demonstrated the majority did not have assessment of spiritual need on admission to the hospice.12 This study aimed to understand this low enquiry rate by exploring potential barriers to a health care worker undertaking spiritual assessment. Method Five focus groups were conducted and recorded over 5 months – 2 with nursing staff, 2 with junior doctors and 1 with senior management. The audio records were transcribed verbatim and subject to thematic analysis. Results This study suggests four over-arching themes obstructing spiritual assessment: • lack of understanding of concepts of spirituality • dissonance of spiritual issues with healthcare culture • social discomfort with the concept of spirituality • personal discomfort with the topic of spirituality Conclusion This study supports and expands on the published literature,13,14 and attempts to create a taxonomy of obstacles to spiritual assessment and care. Recognition of and education around these themes has been undertaken in an attempt to improve rates of spiritual assessment on admission, but re-audit has yet to show any positive improvement.15 Effecting change in spiritual assessment and care to meet the rhetoric remains a challenge. References . Graham F, Clark D. WHO definition of palliative care. Medicine2008;2(36):64–6. . Gordon T, Mitchell D. A competency model for the assessment and delivery of spiritual care. Palliat Med2004;18(7):646–51. . Swinton J. Identity and resistance: why spiritual care needs 'enemies'. J Clin Nurs2006;15(7):918–28. . Kellehear A. Spirituality and palliative care: a model of needs. Palliat Med2000Mar;14(2):149–55. . Balboni TA, Paulk ME, Balboni MJ, Phelps AC, Loggers ET, Wright AA, et al. Provision of spiritual care to patients with advanced cancer: associations with medical care and quality of life near death. Journal of Clinical Oncology2009;28(3):445–52. . Hermann CP. The degree to which spiritual needs of patients near the end of life are met. Oncology nursing forum; 2007. . Pearce MJ, Coan AD, Herndon JE, Koenig HG, Abernethy AP. Unmet spiritual care needs impact emotional and spiritual well-being in advanced cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer2012;20(10):2269–76. . Borneman T, Ferrell B, Puchalski CM. Evaluation of the FICA tool for spiritual assessment. J Pain Symptom Manage2010;40(2):163–73. . Daaleman TP, Nease Jr DE. Patient attitudes regarding physician inquiry into spiritual and religious issues. J Fam Pract1994;39(6):564–9. . Williams JA, Meltzer D, Arora V, Chung G, Curlin FA. Attention to inpatients' religious and spiritual concerns: Predictors and association with patient satisfaction. Journal of general internal medicine 2011;26(11):1265–71. . Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice [Internet] 2017 [cited 1st March 2017]. Available from: www.sobellhouse.org. . Bradley V, Young K, Dawe R. Audit of Documentation to establish rates of spiritual assessment of patients on admission to Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice 2015. . Balboni MJ, Sullivan A, Enzinger AC, Epstein-Peterson ZD, Tseng YD, Mitchell C, et al. Nurse and physician barriers to spiritual care provision at the end of life. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014;48(3):400–10. . Steinhauser KE, Voils CI, Clipp EC, Bosworth HB, Christakis NA, Tulsky JA. "Are you at peace?": one item to probe spiritual concerns at the end of life. Arch Intern Med 2006;166(1):101–5. . Bradley V, Gutjahr J. Re-Audit of Documentation to establish rates of spiritual assessment of patients on admission to Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice 2016.


Newspaper clipping, 16"x12". Photo captions include: "Yachting family enjoys musical interlude in salon aboard the Matoncas. Daughters Carla, left and Carmen, with the Charles M. Smythes." and "The Matoncas, a power cruiser owned by the Charles Smythes, is tied up at the Houston Yacht Club pier between cruises in Galveston Bay. Owner Smythe is a past commodore of the club. Chronicle photos by Gunnar Liljequist, Jr."


During the third MESSENGER flyby of Mercury on 29 September 2009, 15 crossings of the dusk‐side magnetopause were observed in the magnetic field data over a 2‐min period, during which the spacecraft traveled a distance of 0.2 RM (where RM is Mercury's radius). The quasi‐periodic nature of the magnetic field variations during the crossings, the characteristic time separations of ∼16 s between pairs of crossings, and the variations of the magnetopause normal directions indicate that the signals are likely the signature of surface waves highly steepened at their leading edge that arose from the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability. At Earth, the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability is believed to lead to the turbulent transport of solar wind plasma into Earth's plasma sheet. This solar wind entry mechanism could also be important at Mercury.


This study focuses on the work experiences of employees, and on the changing relationships between employees and managers, in a mid-sized popular dance nightclub in a small western Canadian city. This nightclub had, in many ways, a unique organisational environment. Normative expectations about the quality of work in the food and beverage industry (de-skilled, highly standardised) did not initially hold. Employees developed an articulate and sophisticated culture that placed much of the training and decision-making responsibility squarely on their hands. However, internal and external pressures on management prompted the shift from a form of organising the workplace that could have been characterised as responsible autonomy to a more direct and autocratic form of control. This shift had the effect of destroying the organizational culture and stripping the employees of much of their responsibility for employee socialisation and customer service. The impact of these management initiatives on the employees, clientele and `bottom line' of the nightclub is the major concern of this paper.


Children with the onset of epilepsy under the age of two years are a heterogeneous group with particularly poor outcome reported by studies mostly originating from specialist hospital / clinic settings.
A population based study was designed to determine the incidence of epilepsy onset under the age of two years and to ascertain a cohort for long-term follow up. This cohort observation aimed to determine usefulness of the current international classification of epilepsies in this age group, associated structural brain abnormalities, predictors of developmental function close to diagnosis; and factors that are associated with a longitudinal change of developmental scores after 12 months.
Cases were prospectively identified from residents in 15 boroughs of North London involving hospital and community based paediatricians. Information was obtained either by questionnaire anonymously or from clinical assessments of children enrolled in the observational cohort. 57 cases were enrolled giving a crude annual incidence of 54 (95% CI 41-69) /100.000 children under the age of 2 years. A two source capture recapture model determined an adjusted annual incidence of 56.3 – 88.5 (95% CI) / 100.000 <= 2 years.
Clinical assessment of children in the observational cohort at baseline and 12 months follow up included neurodevelopmental evaluation using standardised tools, central review of EEG's and neuroimages. Data of all subjects enrolled were independently evaluated by two paediatric neurologists.
Although most cases were classified under epilepsy syndrome groups, a specific epilepsy syndrome diagnosis could not be allocated in a third of cases and there was only moderate inter-rater agreement (kappa scores: 0.48, 0.5).
Review of neuroimages of 52 children (91%) demonstrated a high yield of aetiologically relevant abnormalities in 26 (50%) with common occurrence of developmental malformations identified in 11 (43%).
Multivariate regression analysis showed that 'abnormal neurological examination' and 'presence of interictal discharges on EEG' significantly and independently predicted lower developmental function close to diagnosis. There was no significant difference between initial and developmental function on follow up after adjusting for initial infantile spasms, normal or abnormal initial EEG, seizure status at follow up, structural brain abnormalities, and antiepileptic medication taken, suggesting that the initial status determined the function after 12 months follow up.


Introduction Correct inhaler technique and device preference are positively correlated with improved adherence and clinical outcomes. This study was designed to investigate inhaler technique mastery and device preference for three different dry powder inhalers, Spiromax, Easyhaler and Turbuhaler. Methods This was a single site, single visit, crossover study assessing device mastery, handling errors and preference using empty Spiromax, Easyhaler and Turbuhaler devices in healthy adult Finnish volunteers. Inhaler naïve adult participants were observed by healthcare professionals (HCPs) to evaluate the proportion of participants achieving device mastery (defined as an absence of HCP observed errors) using a three-step approach: (1) intuitive use (with no instructions), (2) after reading the patient information leaflet and (3) after HCP instruction. HCPs monitored and recorded errors based on device-specific handling error checklists. At the end of the study, participants completed a device preference questionnaire and rated their satisfaction with the three devices. Results Spiromax was correctly used by 37.5% and 93.3% of participants in steps 1 and 2, respectively, compared with 0% and 58.3% with Easyhaler, and 9.2% and 76.7% with Turbuhaler. All three devices showed high mastery (>95%) in step 3. The most common error reported with Spiromax was related to the orientation of the device. Not shaking the device was the most common error with Easyhaler. Errors in priming the device were the most common with Turbuhaler. Spiromax, Easyhaler and Turbuhaler were rated as the 'easiest device to use' by 73.1%, 12.6% and 14.3% of participants, respectively. The HCP instructions clearly improved the use of all devices. Conclusion Higher levels of device mastery, including intuitive/ease of use, were reported by naïve users when using Spiromax compared with Easyhaler and Turbuhaler.


Introduction : Care of children with severe asthma remains a clinical challenge, partly due to the heterogeneity of the disease and the lack of definite biomarkers. In this study, we compared levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum from children with severe asthma and controlled asthma.

Methods : Children with severe therapy resistant asthma (n=34, mean age 13.3 years) and controlled asthma (n=39, mean age 13.8 years) participated in a nationwide Swedish study. The protocol included Asthma control test, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and blood sampling. Interleukin (IL) 4, IL5, IL12p70, tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNFα) and eotaxin were analysed from serum using multiplex technology and results presented as medians with inter quartile ranges (picogram per millilitre).

Results: Severe asthmatic children had inferior asthma control (p 800ug budesonide), compared to children with controlled asthma. FENO (p=0.93) and IgE (p=0.92) were comparable in these two patient groups. Children with severe asthma had increased levels of cytokines related to both Th1 inflammation (IL12p70 4.1 (0-22) vs. 0 (0-4.7), p=0.001 and TNFα 10.4 (4.6-19) vs. 4 (2.1-7.0), p< 0.001)) and to Th2 inflammation (IL4 1.6 (0-29) vs. 0 (0-1.9), p=0.02; IL5 0 (0-1.1) vs. 0 (0-0), p=0.04 and Eotaxin 97.3 (60-146) vs. 49.2 (42-68), p<0.001).

Conclusions: Severe asthmatic children have increased serum levels of cytokines related to both Th1 and Th2 inflammation compared to controlled asthmatics. These results indicate a heterogeneous pattern of inflammation, and multivariate statistical analyses to further characterize the inflammatory phenotypes are initiated.


For over 30 years, organizations have engaged in programs to address the growing presence of diverse populations in their ranks, and researchers have attempted to identify and quantify a link between diversity and enterprise performance. There is a general lack of understanding of how organizations benefit from increased diversity and the role of frontline managers in that process. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the perceptions and lived experiences of frontline managers in their role of executing diversity management programs. The study's framework focused on (a) diversity management, (b) managing people, and (c) team performance. The data collection process involved interviewing 12 frontline managers from a variety of industry sectors using a semistructured, conversational interviewing protocol. The open, hand-coded analysis revealed patterns of thought and behaviors relating to managing individuals, managing the complexity of diversity, and managing diverse teams for high performance. The original concept of diversity management was in response to the growing diversity in the workplace and was intended to develop the capacity among managers to manage the resulting diversity mix. The study findings indicated that a common definition of diversity management is possible, that managing diversity requires a competence with all dimensions of diversity, and that there is a set of management skills that can yield better performance with teams of diverse composition. The results of this study can have a positive impact on theory, practice, and general social acceptance of diversity.


Compassion is potentially an effective emotion-regulation strategy to face the suffering of self and others. The aim of this paper is to provide an evolutionary understanding of compassion and compassion training (CT) by examining the psychological, neural and behavioral effects of loving-kindness meditation and compassion meditation. The author presents various definitions of compassion and examines the physiological and neural processes behind it. Compassion seems to have evolutionary roots but can be limited due to inherited blocks and fears. Compassion is however trainable and can potentially bypass certain evolutionary-based biases. CT results in various significant psychological effects, most notably positive affect, increased (self) compassion, and mindfulness. Evidence is however inconsistent, especially in relation to active controls. Neural effects are significant yet inconsistent across different experimental conditions. CT without a concurrent task activates (1) the right somatosensory cortices (2) the parieto-occipital sulcus, and (3) the right anterior insula. In relation to the socio-affective video task, CT activates medial orbitofrontal cortex, ventral striatum/nucleus accumbens, putamen, and anterior parts of anterior cingulate cortex; regions related to positive affect, motivational reward and affiliation. These findings converge with the reviewed psychological literature. CT also results in increased altruistic and compassionate behavior towards others, even when it's costly to the self and under no-reciprocity conditions. Behavioral effects are mostly demonstrated in game-settings against active controls but also in one real-life situation. Together, the results suggest that CT is beneficial to individuals as well as inter-group relationships.


We design and experimentally demonstrate a broadband metamaterial absorber in the terahertz(THz) band based on a periodic array of aluminum(Al) squares with two different sizes. A thin silicon dioxide(SiO2) film rather than a conventional polyimide(PI) layer is used as a dielectric spacer to separate Al squares from the platinum(Pt) ground plane in our design, which significantly improves the design precision and the feasibility of the device fabrication. The combination of different sizes of Al squares gives rise to an absorption bandwidth of over 210 GHz with an absorption of over 90%. Our results also show that our device is almost polarization-insensitive. It works very well for all azimuthal angles with an absorption of beyond 80%.


Context. Asteroid (101955) Bennu is the target of NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission. The spacecraft's instruments have characterized Bennu at global and local scales to select a sampling site and provide context for the sample that will be returned to Earth. These observations include thermal infrared spectral characterization by the OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES).
Aims. To understand the degree of compositional and particle size variation on Bennu, and thereby predict the nature of the returned sample, we studied OTES spectra, which are diagnostic of these properties.
Methods. We created and mapped spectral indices and compared them with the distribution of geomorphic features. Comparison to laboratory spectra of aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites constrains the amount of compositional variability that is observable.
Results. The OTES spectra exhibit two end-member shapes (or types), and compositional variability appears limited at the spatial resolution of the observations. The global distribution of these spectral types corresponds with the locations of regions composed of (i) large, dark, relatively rough boulders and (ii) relatively smooth regions lacking large boulders.
Conclusions. The two spectral types appear to be diagnostic primarily of particle size variations, with contributions from other properties. The spectra resemble experimental data of solid substrates with very thin accumulations (a few to tens of microns) of fine particles (<~65–100 μm). The dustier surfaces commonly correspond with rougher rocks that may produce and/or act as traps for the particles. Anhydrous silicates are limited in abundance, and the bulk mineralogy is consistent with the most aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites. We expect the returned samples to include these physical and mineralogical characteristics.


The aim of this paper is to predict in details the distributed nocturnal climate inside a one hectare Moroccan canary type tomato-greenhouse equipped with continuous roof and sidewalls ventilation openings with fine insect screens, by means of 3D CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations by using a commercial Software package CFD2000 based on the finite volumes method to solve the mass, momentum and energy conservation equations. The turbulent transfers were described by a k-e model. Likewise, the dynamic influences of insect screens and tomato crop on airflow movement were modeled by means of the concept of porous medium with the Boussinesq assumption. Atmospheric radiations contribution was included in the model by customising the plastic roof cover temperature deducted from its energy balance. Also, the CFD code was customized in order to simulate in each element of the crop cover the sensible and latent heat exchanges between the greenhouse air and tomato crop. Simulations were carried out with a wind prevailing direction perpendicular to the roof openings (west-east direction). Simulations were later validated with respect to temperature and specific humidity field measurements inside the experimental greenhouse. Also, the model was verified respect to global sensible and latent heat transfers. Results show that, generally, greenhouse nocturnal climate distribution is homogeneous along the studies greenhouse area. The insect proof significantly reduced inside airflow wind speed. But there is no significant effect on the inside air temperature and specific humidity respect to outside.


In this article, two basic meditation techniques are described--namely, concentration and mindfulness. The relationship between mindfulness and health is discussed in the context of findings linking repression to physical disorders. Parallels between meditation and psychoanalysis as methods for uncovering the unconscious, using both Freudian and Kellian constructs, are described. It is concluded that meditation, like free association, can be used to facilitate the emergence of unconscious (sub-verbal) material and allow for its integration at a higher (more cognitive) level of awareness.


In this paper we give some theoretical analyses and experimental results on synchronization of the two non-identical exciters. Using the average method of modified small parameters, the dimensionless coupling equation of the two exciters is deduced. The synchronization criterion for the two exciters is derived as the torque of frequency capture being equal to or greater than the absolute value of difference between the residual electromagnetic torques of the two motors. The stability criterion of synchronous state is verified to satisfy the Routh-Hurwitz criterion. The regions of implementing synchronization and that of stability of phase difference for the two exciters are manifested by numeric method. Synchronization of the two exciters stems from the coupling dynamic characteristic of the vibrating system having selecting motion, especially, under the condition that the parameters of system are complete symmetry, the torque of frequency capture stemming from the circular motion of the rigid frame drives the phase difference to approach PI and carry out the swing of the rigid frame; that from the swing of the rigid frame forces the phase difference to near zero and achieve the circular motion of the rigid frame. In the steady state, the motion of rigid frame will be one of three types: pure swing, pure circular motion, swing and circular motion coexistence. The numeric and experiment results derived thereof show that the two exciters can operate synchronously as long as the structural parameters of system satisfy the criterion of stability in the regions of frequency capture. In engineering, the distance between the centroid of the rigid frame and the rotational centre of exciter should be as far as possible. Only in this way, can the elliptical motion of system required in engineering be realized.


Large, high-quality single crystals of the magnesium chromate spinel, MgCr2O4, have been grown by the optical floating zone technique. The impact of experimental parameters including the feed rod density, growth atmosphere, temperature gradient, and the growth rate on eventual crystal quality have been studied. The best single crystals were obtained by growing in purified argon, at high growth rates of 8–24 mm/h and using a slow cooling procedure. The crystals were characterized using Laue and powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and magnetization measurements. Lattice parameter measurements taken from the crystals prepared at various growth conditions combined with the magnetic data show that off-stoichiometric crystals have larger lattice constants and a higher magnetic susceptibility at TN. Our results demonstrate the importance of correlating growth conditions with structural and physical properties to produce high quality single crystals that have physical properties commensurate with stoichiometric powder samples. & 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Optical functionality is being used to realize new data center architectures that minimize electronic switching overheads, pushing the processing to the edge of the network. A challenge in optically interconnected data center networks is to identify the large, bandwidth hungry flows (i.e., elephants) and efficiently establish the optical circuits. Moreover, the amount of optical resources to be provisioned during the network planning phase is a critical design problem. Flow classification accuracy affects the efficiency of optical circuits. Optical channel bandwidth, on the other hand, directly relates to the additive-increase, multiplicative-decrease congestion control mechanism of the transmission control protocol and affects the effective bandwidth allocated to elephant flows. In this paper, we simultaneously investigate the impact of two important mechanisms on data center network performance: traffic flow classification accuracy and optical bandwidth aggregation (i.e., the consolidation of several low-capacity channels into a single high-capacity one by employing advanced modulation formats for short-reach communications). We develop a discrete-event simulator for a hybrid data center network, enabling the tuning of flow classification parameters. Our simulations indicate that data center performance is highly sensitive to the aggregation level.We could observe up to a 74.5% improvement in network throughput only due to consolidating the optical channel bandwidth. We further noticed that the role of flow classification becomes more pronounced with higher bandwidth per wavelength as well as with more hot-spot traffic. Compared to a random classification benchmark, adaptive flow classification could lead to throughput improvements as large as 54.7%.


Lean construction, if adopted could prove to be highly rewarding to Ghanaian construction organizations, resulting in the reduction of waste and improvement in productivity. This paper presents results of a study to assess the perceptions of Ghanaian construction practitioners of the lean construction philosophy and to identify the level of knowledge in the construction industry. Structured questionnaire survey was conducted on technical managers of construction organizations and consultants to assess their perceptions of the lean construction philosophy and to identify the level of knowledge in the Ghanaian construction industry and measures to bridge the knowledge gap. A quantitative approach to data analysis was employed using mean scores of factors studied. There is the existence of a good level of awareness, but a low level of familiarity and application of lean construction among practitioners in the Ghanaian construction industry. Majority are considering the application of lean concepts in future. Lean principles are considered transferable to construction in Ghana and construction practitioners suggest that to deal with the knowledge gap, firms should change organizational culture that does not promote lean construction and the construction industry should organize workshops and conferences to increase the level of awareness and bridge the knowledge gap on lean construction in Ghana. The study should have covered all categories of contractors but due to lack of reliable information on small scale construction organizations, only large firms in the highest financial classes were covered. The findings from the study enable the Ghanaian construction industry to organize training workshops and conferences for key players in the industry to increase their level of awareness and to bridge the knowledge gap on lean construction. The findings of the study are of value to construction organizations seeking to improve productivity and work quality through the adoption of the lean construction approach.


Milk consumption is a very important part of consumers' daily diet due to its positive health effect. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the market of milk and dairy products. The paper analyzes the development of milk consumption in V4 countries, which was described by using regression functions. The data were obtained from the statistical offices of chosen countries. Based on the achieved results it was found that in Slovakia and Hungary milk consumption is very low, but in the Czech Republic and Poland consumption is recorded in the range of recommended doses and is sufficient. Looking to the future, based on the described trend of consumption, it is possible to assume that the situation in the Slovak Republic will be accompanied by unfavorable developments and in comparison with other V4 countries, Slovakia will consume the least milk and dairy products per capita. Moreover, a questionnaire survey orientated on the level of milk consumption and consumer behavior was conducted on the sample of 518 respondents. Average Slovak consumers consume daily 1 glass of milk, 20 g of cheese, 70 g of curds, and 250 g of sour-milk or other dairy product. Depending on the level of consumption, 3 consumer segments were defined for which different consumer behavior was identified, especially in the issue of factor assessment. In general, however, it is concluded that the quality and price of milk and dairy products are crucial for consumers to make their choice.
AcknowledgmentThis paper is supported by the Operational Program Integrated Infrastructure within the project: Demand-driven research for the sustainable and innovative food, Drive4SIFood 313011V336, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.


The design of a recognition system requires careful attention to pattern representation and classifier design. Some statistical approaches choose these features, in a higher dimensional initial space, which allow sample vectors belonging to different categories to occupy compact and disjoint cluster regions in a lower dimensional subspace. The effectiveness of the subspace is determined by how well samples from different classes can be separated. This paper describes a feature selection process for a pose invariant 3D facial expression recognition method providing a lower dimensional subspace representation, which is optimized to improve the classification accuracy, retrieved from geometrical localization of facial feature points to classify universal facial expressions. Probabilistic neural network architecture is employed as a classifier to recognize the facial expressions from the feature vectors obtained from 3D facial feature locations. Facial expressions such as neutral, anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise are successfully recognized with an average recognition rate of 93.72%.


This paper proposes a new recursive based polynomial approach for modeling a hysteresis of a piezostack actuator. The formulation is based on two main curves of hysteresis that are identified experimentally. In the proposed model, an adjusting function that relates the outer curve and its next minor is given. Its coefficients are obtained from the boundary conditions and experiment. From this adjusting function, a recursive-based polynomial formula for the cases of monotonic increasing and decreasing of input excitation are developed to predict the hysteresis. To evaluate the accuracy of the proposed new model, experiments with two different waveforms are carried out.


Medieval mystery plays have had a rich and also distinctive life on British television. These performance texts, drawn from the Bible's story of the universe from just before its Creation to its end on the Day of Judgment, have appealed to television practitioners not only for drama adaptations (from the 1938 presentation of the Chester Abraham and Isaac onwards) and the foundation stone for new dramatic writing (such as the BBC's 1959 The Hill by Paul Almond) but also as the focus of documentaries on contemporary civic, social and religious traditions within communities. Charles Parker, for example, cast his own mystery play from the people of York in a 1973 episode of BBC1's Omnibus, and the 2008 BBC1 Miracle on the Estate chronicled how a mystery play was made into a film by north Manchester residents. Indeed, because of television's interest in the rich web of meanings arising from and surrounding mystery play performance, especially with regard to their relationship with place and community, it is not always easy to make clear-cut distinctions between program genres - in particular, between programs that may be considered to be primarily dramatic productions of part or all of a mystery play and programs that contextualize dramatic performance within the overall form of documentary.

It is clear that from 1938 these dramatic productions and documentaries were routinely transmitted on or very close to significant and relevant dates in the Christian calendar, suggesting that they were perceived to contribute both value and variation to religious programming schedules. Yet this was perhaps a unique case of a dramatic genre that existed in the programming schedules largely within and in relation to a particular cultural context within society more generally, and within and in relation to, in particular, the BBC's broadcasting commitment to observe significant dates in the Christian calendar. Furthermore, only occasionally were mystery plays produced and transmitted by television companies and networks other than the BBC: producing mystery plays was a particularly BBC pursuit.

Very little scholarly attention has been paid to British television's long series of engagements with mystery plays, which stands in contrast to the extensive scholarship about the modes and meanings of mystery plays in live performance during modern times. This essay considers the extent to which dramatic performances of mystery plays produced especially for television may have contributed to an understanding of this performance genre as a mode of expression related to religious, social, and civic traditions and community life in both medieval and modern Britain. This exploration will focus particularly on how the spaces of production (a studio, cathedral, street) and the spaces of performance constructed therein (a landscape or medieval images) evoke particular interpretative frames of reference, some of which are tied strongly to a sense of place - with places, and the communities that inhabit them, being fundamentally
important dimensions of performances of mystery plays.


In the present research we examined the relationships between individual differences in perfectionism and procrastinatory behavior in college students. A sample of 131 students (56 males, 75 females) completed measures of self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism, as well as measures of academic procrastination and general procrastination. Participants also completed ratings of factors related to procrastination (i.e., fear of failure, task aversiveness). Correlational analyses revealed it was the socially prescribed perfectionism dimension that was most closely correlated with both generalized procrastination and academic procrastination, especially among males. There were few significant correlations involving self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism. However, the fear of failure component of procrastination was associated broadly with all the perfectionism dimensions. Overall, the results suggest that procrastination stems, in part, from the anticipation of social disapproval from individuals with perfectionistic standards for others.


Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus are of considerable ecological and commercial ~mportance throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Bight, yet little is known of their settlement habitat and ontogenetic changes in early juvenile habitat requirements. Suction sampllng in macroalgae, seagrass, and coarse calcareous sand habitats and visual surveys of artificial patch reefs were conducted systematically in 1991 to 1994 during wtntertime onshore movement of late larval-early juvenile Nassau grouper within the vicinity of Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. Recently settled fish [R = 32 mm total length (TL)] resided within coral clumps (Porites spp.) covered by masses of macroalgae (primarily Laurencia spp.), with highest densities at 8 fish m-2 There was a positive and significant linear relationship between percent algal cover and post-settlement grouper density. Other habitat features such as algal displacement volume, and the numbers of holes, ledges, and sponges did not explain any sigmficant variation in post-settlement density. Visual transects performed 4 to 5 mo after the settlement period (June) indicated that early juveniles (X = 85 mm TL) residing within or adjacent to algal-covered coral clumps were mostly solitary (88%). Growth rates during February to June averaged 10 mm mo-' in 1993. When densities of early juveniles were relatively high in 1991 and 1993 (X = 0.03 fish m-*), there was also a positive and significant linear relationship between percent algal cover and early juvenile density. During 3 separate annual sampling periods, a decrease in early juvenile densities in macroalgal habitats from June to October was matched by a concomitant increase in abundance in artificial patch reefs located seaward of the macroalgal habitat. These habitat-specific abundance patterns suggest that juvenile Nassau grouper exhibit an ontogenetic habitat shift from inacroalgal-Podtes spp. clumps to patch-reef habitats at a size of 120 to 150 mm TL during late summer and early fall. Based on habitat associations observed in this study, E. striatus were classified into 3 stages: (1) post-settlement fish (25 to 35 mm TL) residing exclusively wlthin algal-covered coral clumps; (2) early juveniles (60 to 150 mm TL) residing outside of and adjacent to algal-covered coral clumps; and (3) larger juveniles (>l50 mm TL), which were generally associated with natural and artificial patch reefs.


Joy Kogawa is a well known Japanese-Canadian poet and novelist. Her award-winning autobiographical novel, Obasan (1981),[1] examines the personal wartime internment experience of the author through the fictionalized persona of Naomi Nakane and her Aunt Emily Kato. Obasan, the title character, is Naomi9s other aunt, the one who raises her when World War II destroys the family. Emily is a political activist, the voice of protest and conscience in the novel, while the narrator, Naomi, has to work through her own silence and that of all Japanese-Canadians. As a novel with a dual voice, Obasan is able to probe the politics of the internment experience and its effect on the country as a whole as well as to demonstrate the internal, private damage to these loyal citizens who, as a minority group, kept their suffering quiet and were obedient.


Abstract : The reinforcement mechanisms in graphene-based nanocomposites have been studied in this project, which primarily consists of three parts: the size and orientation effects of the graphene-based nano-fillers and their interfacial adhesion with the matrix. Overall Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated to be a powerful technique to study the graphene-based nanocomposites. The deformation of small size graphene has been followed and a new model has been established. Additionally, the deformation of monolayer graphene oxide (GO) has been followed for the first time. It appears that continuum mechanics is still valid, and the approximately constant strain distribution along the GO flake suggests a better stress transfer efficiency of GO than that of graphene. The spatial orientation of graphene has been studied based on the Raman scattering obtained from transverse sections of graphene, where the Raman bands intensities show a strong polarization dependence. Based on this, a new model has been established to quantify the spatial orientation of graphene in terms of an orientation distribution function, and the spatial orientation of monolayer graphene has been further confirmed by its surface roughness. It is also shown how the spatial orientation of graphene-based fillers affects the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, through the first determination of the Krenchel orientation factor for nanoplatelets. The findings on both the size and orientation effects have been employed to study the deformation mechanics of bulk GO reinforced nanocomposite films. It has been demonstrated for the first time that the effective modulus of GO can be estimated using the Raman D band shift rate, and this is in agreement with the value measured using conventional mechanical testing. The effective modulus of GO is found to be lower than its Young s modulus, probably due to the mis-orientation, waviness, wrinkling and agglomeration of the GO fillers.


The main problem with monitoring biofilms is data interpretation. Biofilm heterogeneity causes monitored parameters to vary from location to location in the same biofilm, and it is difficult to assess to what extent these variations are caused by biofilm heterogeneity and to what extent they reflect other properties of the biofilm. We have used the concept of discretized biofilms, which is an integrated system of biofilm monitoring and data interpretation, to assess the effect of biofilm heterogeneity on biofilm activity. Using this approach we have estimated that a heterogeneous biofilm can be ten times more active, in terms of glucose consumption rate, than a homogeneous biofilm of the same thickness but with uniformly distributed density.


The mechanical anisotropy of wrought Mg alloys is very high. For example the yield stress of extruded Mg-3Al-1Zn tested in tension can be as high as twice that obtained in compression [1]. To solve the problems this creates for product design it is necessary to understand the sensitivity of texture to processing parameters. Uniaxial compression tests at different temperatures were performed on cylindrical samples of an extruded Mg-3Al-1Zn bar. The texture during this deformation changes from a situation where all crystal c-axes are nearly perpendicular to the sample axis to one where the c-axes are all nearly parallel to this axis. Compression was stopped at different strains to examine the rate of this texture change. Textures were examined using EBSD measurements. It was found that different mechanisms operate depending on the temperature of deformation and that a variety of textures can be created. Also it was seen that an annealing treatment performed after compression has an influence on the texture. Afterwards the samples were subjected to another uniaxial compression test to examine the influence of texture on room temperature properties.


Discipline is the power or measures package that head to decrease the disorders in the organizational life and stick to agreement between the organizational and individual goal. In this study, a research is made to determine the efficiency of discipline in organizations. The research is made with 130 employees working in Turkish owned firms and foreign owned in order to determine how managers' effect disciplines perception and its implementation. As a result of this research, it has been observed that, in comparison with foreign owned firm managers, Turkish owned firm managers apply more discipline approaches (corrective and punitive), are less successful in discipline implementation and also a higher indiscipline rate is seen in organizations they manage. Besides, there is a perception that Turkish owned firm managers do not behave fair while trying to discipline. Employees that work under their supervision are not satisfied with discipline efforts.


Robotic swarms are distributed systems whose members interact via local control laws to achieve different behaviors. Practical missions may require a combination of different swarm behaviors, where these behavioral combinations are not known a priori but could arise dynamically due to changes in mission goals. Therefore, human interaction with the swarm (HIS) is needed. In this paper, we introduce, formally define and characterize a novel concept, Neglect Benevolence, that captures the idea that it may be beneficial for system performance if the human operator, after giving a command, waits for some time before giving a subsequent command to the swarm. This raises the important question of the existence and means of calculation of the optimal time for the operator to give input to the swarm in order to optimize swarm behavior. Human operators are limited in their ability to estimate the best time to give input to the swarm. Therefore, automated aids that calculate the optimal input time could help the human operator achieve the best system performance. Our contributions are as follows. First, we formally define the new notion of Neglect Benevolence. Second, we prove the existence of Neglect Benevolence for a class of linear dynamical systems. Third, we provide an analytic characterization and an algorithm for calculating the optimal input time. Fourth, we apply the analysis to the human control of swarm configuration.


Abstract The relation between copper atomic charges and metal-ligand interaction energies obtained by PM6 and DFT-B3LYP methods for cytotoxicity prediction of model rutile nanoparticles [Ti40O124H81]7–, [Ti7O28H26]2–, [Ti2O10H10]2–, [Ti7O30H30]2– and their Cu(II) complexes is investigated. Except for Mulliken charges, very good statistical parameters were obtained for the linear relation between the results obtained by both methods if standard accuracy of quantum-chemical calculations is achieved.


This study was carried out to evaluate in vitro the beneficial effects observed in various aggressive fibromatoses (mediastinal, retroperitoneal, paraneoplastic fibrosis and desmoid tumors) after treatment with progesterone. Primary cultures of fibroblasts were prepared from fetuses of Swiss strain mice. Continuous fibroblast lines LM and Vero were also used. Moreover, cultures of non-fetal human fibroblast from skin and lung were employed. Epithelial tumor cell line HeLa was used as a control. All cultures were incubated with various doses of progesterone at concentrations from 1.4 X 10(-4) to 1.4 X 10(-3) M. Human cells and monolayers of fetal murine fibroblast were submitted to the action of medroxyprogesterone solution at the same concentrations as used for progesterone. Other steroids (estrone, estriol, testosterone and prednisolone) were used at the identical concentrations in the same vehicles. Progesterone affected all lines of fibroblasts studied and destroyed them within either 2-4 or 24-48 h depending on the steroid concentrations used. Medroxyprogesterone had a comparable effect on human cell lines and monolayers of fetal murine fibroblasts provided that the same ratio between the hormone concentration and the time of exposure was maintained. With higher medium concentrations shorter times of incubation were required for the destruction of fibroblast. However, to observe a degree of lysis similar to that elicited by progesterone, it was necessary to use 4 times higher concentrations of medroxyprogesterone. No effect on HeLa epithelial cells was observed nor were the controls affected by the steroids or diluents used at the appropriate concentrations. Results from incubation studies using monolayers of murine fibroblast and 14C-progesterone suggested that the cells were destroyed by the progesterone and not by a bioproduct of its metabolism.


The enzymopathic hypothesis of the aetiology of coeliac disease (CD) is still relevant as a mechanism operating in this disease and a form of therapy based on the use of enzymes which are deficient in CD is currently being evaluated. This approach is based on the premise that if gluten and other offending proteins are completely digested in the small intestinal mucosa with the aid of supplementary enzymes, an adverse response will not occur. This is comparable to the situation in those who do not suffer from this disease, where there is neither direct toxic action nor an abnormal immunological response to cause damage to the mucosa. Enzyme therapy offers a way of safeguarding the integrity of the small intestine for patients against traces of gluten ingested whilst attempting to maintain a strict gluten-free diet. Furthermore, in the future, the efficiency of this approach may develop to the point where minor indulgence in some favourite foods and beverages, may be possible.


Purpose - The concept of poverty traps based on a critical threshold that distinguishes transitory from chronic poverty gives rise to a crucial policy distinction between cargo nets and safety nets. While safety nets are designed to prevent the non-poor and transitorily poor from falling into chronic poverty, cargo nets are meant to help those who fall below the critical threshold to help them climb out of chronic poverty. The study attempts to determine the factors that affect a beneficiary artisan's decision to use the toolkits provided, i.e. to climb up using the cargo net of improved toolkits and become more active economically. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on primary data collected from the supply of improved toolkits to rural artisans (SITRA) programme in 2001-2002. It is performed on the dataset consisting of 6,788 observations (beneficiary artisans). Due to some missing data 700 observations could not be used. Thus, only 6,088 observations are considered for the purpose of the ordered logit analysis. Findings - The paper develops the related concepts of conditional and structural rigidities restraining the movement and studies the role of these rigidities in determining the economic mobility of a beneficiary household when a climbing cargo net is provided. The paper finds that there is strong evidence that governments are confused about the concept of poverty reduction and alleviation strategies. The study reveals that narrower targeting on beneficiaries with lower conditional rigidities is better as they are more likely to use the toolkits and hence increase their income from craftsmanship and so promote both economic growth and poverty reduction. Research limitations/implications - The study focuses on a specific poverty alleviation programme. The findings are restricted to a special economic group at all India level. Nonetheless, the study highlights that a thorough understanding of the conditional and structural rigidities faced by a beneficiary artisan and how these affect his economic behaviour would be very useful in both designing and implementation of poverty reduction programmes. Originality/value - This paper will be of value to researchers, policy makers seeking to gain better understanding of targeting. The paper observes that appreciation of significant conditional rigidities are useful while designing programmes – particularly while targeting the beneficiaries – structural rigidities are more important while implementing and monitoring these programs.


This article presents a generalization of the Boltzmann machine that allows us to use the learning rule for a much wider class of maximum likelihood and maximum a posteriori problems, including both supervised and unsupervised learning. Furthermore, the approach allows us to discuss regularization and generalization in the context of Boltzmann machines. We provide an illustrative example concerning parameter estimation in an inhomogeneous Markov field. The regularized adaptation produces a parameter set that closely resembles the "teacher" parameters, hence, will produce segmentations that closely reproduce those of the inhomogeneous teacher network.


The long‐wavelength negative gravity anomaly over Hudson Bay coincides with the area depressed by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum, suggesting that it is, at least partly, caused by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Additional contributions to the static gravity field stem from surface dynamic topography, core‐mantle boundary (CMB) topography, and density anomalies in the subsurface. Previous estimates of the contribution of GIA to the gravity anomaly range from 25% to more than 80%. However, these estimates did not include uncertainties in all components that contribute to the gravity field. In this study, we develop a forward model for the gravity anomaly based on density models and dynamic models, investigating uncertainty in all components. We derive lithospheric densities from equilibrium constraints but extend the concept of lithospheric isostasy to a force balance that includes the dynamic models. The largest uncertainty in the predicted gravity anomaly is due to the lower mantle viscosity, uncertainties in the ice history, the crustal model, the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary, and the conversion from seismic velocities to density have a smaller effect. A preference for lower mantle viscosities >1022 Pa s is found, in which case at least 60% of the observed long‐wavelength gravity anomaly can be attributed to GIA. This lower bound on the lower mantle viscosity has implications for inferences based on models for mantle convection and GIA.


Inspection made for moment-resist frame connection assembled by welding found that most failures occurred in weld zone between beam and column flange connections, and these failures were caused by cracks initiated at the root of weld. The main reason for the crack initiation is not plastic deformation as expected, and the evaluation results indicated that the major failure mechanism for the brittle failure behavior of moment-resist frame (MRF) connection is caused by the residual stress induced by welding. This paper use finite element method to simulate welding residual stress, and apply them into 3D fracture models. With fracture parameters calculated in finite element analysis, information about fracture strength of MRF connection is acquired.


The fitness of parasitic organisms is strongly driven by their ability to infect potential hosts. Although transmission to a host organism is a key component to the parasitic lifestyle, surviving and reproducing within a host poses additional challenges. Cymothoa excisa is a parasitic isopod that infects Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, along the Texas coast and has evolved mechanisms to successfully survive and reproduce within its host. Cymothoa excisa is known to exhibit sex-change strategies but limited information exists on morphological changes, reproductive output and the timing at which sex change becomes optimal. This study collected Atlantic croaker during a 22-month survey period and identified parasite prevalence and intensity in the host fish population. Infection rates were constant throughout the year at 19.88% and intensity increased through the season up to a maximum of four parasites. Following collection, isopod morphological parameters were quantified for each life stage (including female, transitional, male and juvenile), identifying shape and size transitions through ontogeny and sex change. Transitional C. excisa isopods only occurred when only one isopod was present in a fish, suggesting that isopods change sex from male to female if they are the first to recruit to an uninfected host. As isopods transition to females they have a large increase in size, legs, and pleotelson (which influence fecundity and anchoring ability), whereas the gonopod, eyes and uropod show a reduction (which are no longer needed for swimming and finding hosts). Data suggest that C. excisa sex change is related to the timing of infection and brood size increases with female size and host size. Therefore, it would be advantageous to be the first isopod to infect a host, as it could change into a female and increase reproductive potential. We discuss hypotheses that could explain the mating behavior of parasitic isopods.