The present paper describes a nucleate boiling model based on Chen's correlation, and posterior validation with experimental data. When using a heat exchanger with a liquid coolant, if the wall exceeds the saturation temperature of the liquid at system's pressure, it may boil, increasing the heat transfer law. The aim of this study is to validate the model developed with some experiments carried out in a heated flat probe. The proposed algorithm consists of a heat flux partition in two terms, one regarding the forced convection heat transfer existing in the free-boil area, and the other term considers the heat transfer increment due to the nucleate boiling. Consequently, general results show lower temperatures in the wall because of the increased heat flux, proved in several industrial components within these conditions. To achieve the model validation, some simulations were developed with the CFD software Ansys Fluent, configured with the same geometry and conditions as our experimental installation. Using a copper conduction, a heat flux up to 2MW is used to increase the temperature of a wall in contact with water, which flows through a 20mm wide and 25mm high duct. Heat transfer data are recorded while the temperature increases, allowing us to compare the boiling curves with the CFD boiling model results. Data comparisons show a good agreement with five cases studied at different conditions of system pressure and velocity and temperature inlet. An implementation of a widely used boiling model has been developed and its results have been validated with our experimental data, providing a good agreement under the specified conditions. The obtained results have shown an important improvement with respect to other multiphasic and standard models, offering better results simulating industrial components.


Juniper berry is an important medicinal plant used in pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries thanks to its strong antioxidant potential, which is attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. In this study, four different solvents, namely, aqueous acetone, aqueous ethanol, aqueous NaOH, and water, were used in the extraction process with a view to optimize and determine the polyphenolic contents in the juniper berry using ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. Many experiments were performed at different solvent concentrations, time, temperature, and liquid–solid ratio. The models to evaluate the effects and the optimum of these variables on the polyphenols extraction using the response surface methodology (RSM) were developed. The predicted values of the polyphenol content of juniper berry were thus highly correlated with costly measured values (SECV = 0.14 and R2 = 0.97), and the optimal conditions of extraction were determined for the different solvents. Following the numerical optimization, the maximum predicted polyphenol contents obtained under the optimum extraction conditions are as follows: 17.57% for 58 °C extraction temperature, 78.5 min extraction time, 60% acetone concentration, and 29.8 liquid–solid ratio for the aqueous ethanol extraction; 20.68% for 71.46 °C extraction temperature, 79.2 min extraction time, 21.9% ethanol concentration, and 26.4:1 liquid–solid ratio for the aqueous acetone extraction; 34.51% for 96.4 °C extraction temperature, 37.7 min extraction time, 1.48% NaOH concentration, and 15.2:1 liquid–solid ratio for the aqueous NaOH extraction; and 9.8% was obtained under the optimum extraction conditions of 69 °C extraction temperature, 126 min extraction time, and 23:1 liquid–solid ratio for the water extraction. The GC–MS analysis of the chemical composition of juniper Berry revealed 60 identified components that represent 97.43% of the sample. The predominant fraction was monoterpene representing 80.87% especially for α-pinene (39.12%), β-pinene (12. 68%), and myrcene (12.92%). In the other fraction of sesquiterpene representing 16.54%, the predominant components were β-caryophyllene (4.41%) and germacrene D (4.23%).


The Sphere Humanitarian Charter, a self-regulation instrument of humanitarian non-State actors, establishes principles and minimum standards in the provision of humanitarian assistance in select vital life-saving relief activities, especially in nutrition and health. The Charter articulates principles and minimum standards for facilitating the achievement of rights and obligations enshrined in various international legal "soft law" instruments. Due to the multiplicity of international legal instruments, the Sphere Charter provides a tool for a coherent understanding and application of relevant obligations, and therefore increases accountability and efficiency. The Sphere Charter's bold human rights based approach to humanitarian assistance, including its articulation of a right to receive humanitarian assistance, may contribute to the evolution of the international legal regime into a more "victim centered" system. The central argument postulated in this article is that although the Sphere Charter is not a binding legal instrument, it has significant normative value that may contribute to progressive developments in the legal regime governing humanitarian assistance, and is particularly helpful in improving accountability and quality in the provision of nutrition and health relief. The Sphere Charter framework for local participation is particularly viewed as significant in engendering accountability in relief activities.


Background: The concept of relationship marketing is a continuously growing research area in the field of academic research. A topic being widely discussed is which factors builds trust and the importance of having trust in business-to-business (B2B) relationships. However, there is a lack of research in the field of which factors have a negative effect on the level of trust in business relationships.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explain which factors are crucial to maintain trust in a B2B relationship.Focus: The focus in this study is on trust in B2B relationships. Particularly how it is negatively affected by lacking the building blocks needed in order to have trust in such a relationship.Method: This study made use of a deductive, quantitative approach. By using a survey, the data was gathered through an online questionnaire sent out via e-mail to 700 Swedish B2B companies.Results: In total, answers from 141 were reliable. In SPSS analyses for regression, reliability, and validity were conducted. Out of the five stated hypotheses, three were accepted and two rejected. Conflict handling was shown to have the largest influence on the level of trust together with communication and competence. Commitment and contracts were rejected in the hypotheses testing.Conclusion: A new model is presented where the accepted hypotheses act as influencers on trust. The conclusion of this study is that if there is a lack of conflict handling, communication, and competence it will have a negative effect on trust in a B2B relationship. Due to limitations of the study, other research opportunities derive. It is suggested that future research should explore the differentiation between different industries and/or different kind of actors within the B2B-relation or countries.


Abstract Three samples, one American (N = 500) and two from the Netherlands (N = 460, N = 297) of 2-6 year old children, screened for the absence of sexual abuse, were assessed with 25 items derived from the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (Friedrich et al. 1992). Considerable differences existed between the three groups across a number of the behaviors rated, with a persisting tendency for the parents of the children from the Netherlands to report higher rates of sexual behavior. Family nudity was related to sexual behavior in all three samples. Although the studies used an equivalent questionnaire and all three of the samples are predominantly middle class, the observed differences can be explained by methodological factors such as sample composition and the way data have been collected. The observed differences might, however, also reflect actual differences, and can be understood as resulting from cultural differences in sexual socialization. More rigorous research is needed to assess which explanation is most valid.


The differential diagnosis for what may seem an inguinal hernia may be complex, as lateral pain may be of many types of origin. We report the case of a 48-year-old female patient who presented with a history of painful, progressively protruding soft bulging masses over the bilateral inguinal area and a 20-year history of head cancer and hepatitis B virus. Pathological analysis, gynecological ultrasound and abdominal computed tomography scan were required to make final determination. Final diagnosis was Stage IV ovarian carcinomatosis, which responded to chemotherapy. Initial diagnosis of inguinal hernia should not rule out other potential diagnoses, particularly in complex cases with other risk factors.


From the Publisher:
This book derives techniques which allow reliable plans to be automatically selected by intelligent machines. It concentrates on the uncertainty analysis of candidate plans so that a highly reliable candidate may be identified and used. For robotic components, such as a particular vision algorithm for pose estimation or a joint controller, methods are explained for directly calculating the reliability. However, these methods become excessively complex when several components are used together to complete a plan. Consequently, entropy minimization techniques are used to estimate which complex tasks will be performed reliably. The book first develops tools for directly calculating the reliability of sub-systems, and methods of using entropy minimization to greatly facilitate the analysis are explained. Since these sub-systems are used together to accomplish complex tasks, the book then explains how complex tasks can be efficiently evaluated.


In order to determine the functional benefits of Cordyceps militaris in the immune system, we examined the immunomodulatory activities of Cordyceps militaris in an immunocompromised C57BL/6 mice model. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with an immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide, and then administered orally with 3% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg of 50% ethanol extract of Cordyceps militaris (CM 30, CM 100, and CM 300, respectively) for 12 days. Mice treated with CM displayed significantly increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity compared to immunosuppressed control mice (p<0.05). The spleen cells isolated from mice treated with CM also displayed increased production of Th1 cytokines, including IL-2, IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α, suggesting enhanced cellular immunity in response to CM. However, CM had no significant effect on the production of IL-4 and IL-10. These results indicate that Cordyceps militaris enhances immune function by promoting immune cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production.


We propose a segment-based matching pursuit algorithm where the psychoacoustical properties of the human auditory system are taken into account. Rather than scaling the dictionary elements according to auditory perception, we define a psychoacoustic-adaptive norm on the signal space which can be used for assigning the dictionary elements to the individual segments in a rate-distortion optimal manner. The new algorithm is asymptotically equal to signal-to-mask ratio based algorithms in the limit of infinite analysis window length. However, the new algorithm provides a significantly improved selection of the dictionary elements for finite window length.


Background: Ciclopirox is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent as well as anti-inflammatory agent and is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These properties may give ciclopirox an advantage over other antifungal agents in the treatment of dermatophyte infection.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ciclopirox olamine 1% cream in the treatment of Dermatophytosis.

Methods: In Dhaka Medical College hospital Eighty-one patients with tinea corporis/tinea cruris were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were examined for clinical diagnosis  and confirmed by a positive10.0% KOH reading. They were advised to apply Ciclopirox olamine 1% cream once daily for 2 weeks  and Clinical and mycological  assessment at baseline and at 4th week.

Result: The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 60 years with the mean age of 32.5 (SD ± 10.5) years. There were 52 (64.2%) male and 29 (35.8%) female with a male to female ratio  was 1.8:1. The mean age of the female patients was significantly lower (Z=1.114; p>0.05) and highest 29 (35.8%) patients were in the age group of 21-30 years. Tinea corporis found in 47 (58.0%)  and tinea cruris in 34 (42.0%) . The mean clinical assessment score declined from 6.6 ± 1.3 at baseline; to 3.9±1.2 at week 1, 0.9 ±1.3 at week 2; 0.7 ± 1.1 at week 4.  Global response was clear in 55 (67.9%) , good in 25 (30.9%)  and fair in 55 (67.9%) . Mycological response was eradicated in 80 (98.8%) patients and persistent in only 1 (1.2%) patients. Clinical efficacy was cure in 55 (67.9%), improvement in 25 (30.9%) and failure in 1 (1.2%). Excessive pruritus occurred  in 2 (2.5%)  and excessive burning in 1 (1.2) after initial application of cream which gradually disappeared after subsequent application.

Conclusion: Once daily topical administration of Ciclopirox olamine 1% cream is highly effective and well tolerated treatment of dermatomycoses causing T corporis and T cruris. The short treatment regimen and the high cure rate with Ciclopirox olamine 1% cream can be a valuable treatment option in treating tinea corporis and cruris.


SHQ1 is an essential assembly factor for H/ACA ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) required for ribosome biogenesis, pre-mRNA splicing, and telomere maintenance. SHQ1 binds dyskerin/NAP57, the catalytic subunit of human H/ACA RNPs, and this interaction is modulated by mutations causing X-linked dyskeratosis congenita. We report the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of yeast SHQ1, Shq1p, and its complex with yeast dyskerin/NAP57, Cbf5p, lacking its catalytic domain. The C-terminal domain of Shq1p interacts with the RNA-binding domain of Cbf5p and, through structural mimicry, uses the RNA-protein-binding sites to achieve a specific protein-protein interface. We propose that Shq1p operates as a Cbf5p chaperone during RNP assembly by acting as an RNA placeholder, thereby preventing Cbf5p from nonspecific RNA binding before association with an H/ACA RNA and the other core RNP proteins.


Empirical studies routinely find evidence that public investments in education, science, and infrastructure have as high or a higher rate of return than private capital invested more broadly, and that such public investments are complementary to and crowd-in private investment. This implies that public borrowing or raising taxes to fund more public investment would increase the rate of economic growth and provide budgetary benefits.

However, when scoring the effects of legislation, the Congressional Budget Office and the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a think tank, use dubious assumptions that systematically put a thumb on the scale in favor of shrinking the government and against NPV-positive public investment. Rather than help correct shortcomings in CBO's approach, the PWBM often amplifies them, making assumptions that are even less plausible than those of the CBO. PWBM's errors are not random such that they offset each other, but rather have a single systematic direction — all of the problematic assumptions and methodological problems put a thumb on the scale in favor of low taxes on the ultra-wealthy.

PWBM, like CBO, assumes away the short-term benefits of public investments while treating private investments more favorably, even though many private investments — in particular those relating to development of new technologies — take a long time to produce positive cash flows. The PWBM assumes away the long-term benefits of public investment for reasons that are irrelevant and patently wrong under established principles of valuation. The PWBM elevates the role of arbitrary timing assumptions instead of focusing on lifetime IRR and NPV. The PWBM assumes crowding out of investment, when the empirical evidence is as strong, if not stronger, for crowding in. The PWBM assumes a coming crisis when both financial markets and ratings agencies suggest that this is very unlikely. The PWBM assumes that the United States is overwhelmingly a closed economy with respect to international investment when the evidence suggests that it is overwhelmingly open. The PWBM assumes a shortage of capital, when negative real risk-free interest rates point to a capital glut. The PWBM assumes that only the extremely wealthy can supply sufficient capital, and that changes to taxes and spending that benefit middle- and upper middle-income individuals will not enable these groups to serve instead as suppliers of capital. The PWBM assumes that the wealthy react to higher taxes by saving less, when it is possible that they react by working harder or consuming fewer luxuries.

The many problems with PWBM's analysis raise serious doubts that the PWBM's analysis can be used as a guide in selecting policy choices that will increase economic growth or improve the well-being of most U.S. citizens.

Congress's counter-productive approach to scoring legislation should be revised to more accurately reflect the well-established benefits of public investment and the ambiguous effects of taxes or public borrowing.


Fiber optic communications offer a combination of high bandwidth, low error probability, and gigabit transmission capacity. To take advantage of the data transmission rates offered by a fiber optic transmission medium, it is essential to have network processing components that can cope with these rates. One approach to removing the protocol processing bottleneck present in network layers is the PSi architecture. PSi consists of header, connection, and output processors. In this paper, we design a RISC architecture for the PSi header processor. The architecture consists of a two stage pipeline microprogrammed processor with a clock frequency of 50 Megahertz and a throughput of one million packets per second. The specific protocol for which this processor was microprogrammed is the Logical Link Control IEEE 802.2 protocol for LANs.<<ETX>>


This paper studies a popular selling mechanism relevant to the Australian housing market in which the seller of the object posts an asking price to attract potential buyers for further negotiations. The game is studied in a dynamic setting with the possibility of more than one potential buyer arriving at each period. The game is designed such that in the event when only one buyer arrives, the seller engages in negotiation with that buyer and when two or more buyers arrive, the seller runs an auction with a reserve price. We show the conditions under which this mechanism can extract more expected payoffs to the seller comparing to a uniform price selling or an standard auction. The selling mechanism we study is applicable to many real world markets, specially the housing market of Australia and adds to the theoretical literature by explaining why sometimes sale prices are higher than the asking prices. We also explain the role of the asking price in the relevant markets. Other small variations of this mechanism are also studied for the purposes of comparison.


Governance of risks to native flora and fauna and agriculture from disease and pests increasingly emphasises the importance of a 'shared responsibility' for biosecurity. Few studies, however, have examined factors that influence stakeholders' engagement with such risks and responsibilities, particularly in community, rather than agricultural, settings. In this paper, we focus on a group of stakeholders in a context of heightened regional biosecurity activity, in northern Queensland, Australia. We explore the role that community garden actors may or may not play in biosecurity surveillance. Through interviews with 16 community garden group leaders and local government representatives, we unpack external social factors that contributed to stakeholders' engagement, unengagement, or disengagement with and from biosecurity risks. These factors included institutional characteristics such as land tenure and the presence or absence of management policies and guidelines. However, we found that less formal institutional characteristics such as social networks played a greater role in shaping stakeholder engagement. Unengaged stakeholders were typically unaware of risks posed by plant pests and diseases and had limited network connections to relevant government agencies but expressed an interest in learning and participating in biosecurity surveillance networks. Disengaged stakeholders were more knowledgeable of biosecurity risks and had established network connections but expressed a low interest in or willingness to report a potential biosecurity threat. This case study provides insights into important social dimensions of governing risk among stakeholders and offers recommendations to improve stakeholder engagement within biosecurity surveillance networks.


A general integral equation based on Markov chain theory is used to determine the probability density function (pdf) for the phase of vibrational waves propagating along a ribbed flat membrane or plate. This equation is simplified considerably when the ribs are distributed completely randomly or quasiperiodically. In these two cases, the equation is asymptotically solved in the limit of weak or strong scattering from each rib; the phase pdf and the localization factor of the wave functions are obtained explicitly. The validity of the asymptotic solutions is examined and verified by comparing against the well‐known analytical solutions and Monte Carlo simulation.


Official statistics is challenged to provide an increasingly complete picture of the complexity of our societies with a compelling demand for data. At the same time, it is facing human resources and budget constraints. The development and dissemination of new digital technologies have removed many obstacles, first of all the cost for production, storage and analysis of information. A leap forward in efficiency is therefore in order, if we are to meet our responsibilities and to guarantee ever increasing quality standards. As sampling surveys are expensive, response rates are decreasing and response burden must be reduced, data collection need to be optimised. The emergence of new data sources and availability of Big data and the opportunity of a massive exploitation of those already at hand (like administrative data) require new tools and methodologies. The response to these thematic, methodological and organizational challenges lies in "integration": of sources, of methods, and of skills. Multiple use of data sources should be based on a re-engineering of the production process of official statistics. At Istat, the core of the new organisation aims at moving away from the 'silo' approach, typical of traditional statistical agencies, towards the enhancement of horizontal services: management, methodology and IT innovations drive the integration process, linking sources to boost coherence, tailoring new products to the different users' needs, reducing the response burden through the reuse of available data and information, increasing the use of technology, and resulting in significant efficiency and time saving. This new organisational model supports the Integrated System of Statistical Registers, a single logical data asset resulting from the integration of survey data, administrative data as well as data coming from new sources. Pillars of this system are the Population Register, the Business Register and the Territorial Register which are interconnected with one another through the Activity Register. The Integrated System allows achieving units and variables identification and estimation consistency as single cohesive units, which will make several new analyses possible (including a longitudinal approach). Hence, the system will not only improve efficiency by means of economies of scale, but also high quality and richer statistical outputs. The path towards integration cannot leave the research activity of the Institute aside: research and development of new techniques and methodologies are indeed at the center of Istat's modernisation project. Istat has set up a three-year plan for methodological and thematic research. Methodological research will move along four strategic research areas: integrated system of registers; censuses obtained by data integration; big data; and the unique process. Innovation will emerge from the so-called "Innovation lab", a place where researchers will share new ideas, test new solutions, new processes and new products. The frontier of data integration for official statistics is represented by the increasing opportunities to use big data to produce timely high-quality statistics with greater detail, and competing with growing numbers of new, non-official, players. NSIs are compelled to speed their production and make it more effective and less burdensome for respondents. In Istat, as in most NSIs in Europe, several projects using big data sources for the production of statistics are currently ongoing. Some projects are in the early stages of implementation, some other are still in the experimental phase. We expect to reap the first results in the near future. All those projects need to tackle three key issues: quality, privacy and security issues, partnerships. The use of big data in the production of official statistics is part of a wider strategy on "Experimental statistics" including new indicators from integration of sources, new tools for new phenomena, and unconventional classifications. Outputs from these innovative work will need to be treated accordingly. Data dissemination is another key issue in official statistics' innovation with the progressive opening of our data at its core. Open data are a key enabler of data driven innovation. When official statistics meets open data, several benefits are generated: from the possibility to reach users more easily to the enrichment of the published information with metadata that allow a proper interpretation. Much has already been done in the last years to disseminate them. Through the Linked Open Data portal users can now access interconnected and structured information through graphical interfaces that can be directly queried by external applications, independently of the technologies adopted. Finally, on the way towards innovation, high level skills and a change-driven culture are essential. Statistical institutions need data specialist able to produce, integrate and interpret data and to work with big and open data, but such skills are also strongly requested by the market, everywhere in Europe. Italy needs to engage further to urgently foster these new professions. Statistical organisations can also benefit greatly from each other and from mutual exchange and support and networking.


The structure elements of metamorphic and granitic rocks along the Sierra Nevada front between Mt. Lyell and Mt. Whitney combine into a regional pattern dominated by northwest, northeast nearly north-south, and west-northwest directions, all reflected in the much younger plan of Tertiary-Pleistocene border faults. The elements of basement structure indicate strong upward motion, accompanied or followed by horizontal shift and local overthrusting. The motion on northwest and west-northwest structures was like the shift that has been observed on the San Andreas fault. On northeast structures, the movement seems to have been like that which caused the horizontal displacement reported by Hulin on the Garlock fault. This shear pattern suggests north-south compression. Into such a system, the nearly north-south structures fit as tensional features. The intersections of the northwest and northeast shift zones were loci of especially intense deformation, and in some cases they were especially favored by intrusions. Pleistocene volcanic outlets were grouped on similar intersections in the fault pattern. The internal structures of the intrusions and their contact relations with the metamorphic rocks seem to preclude any great amount of downward stoping, and seem to indicate forceful intrusion. Time relations between intrusion and wall-rock deformation in general, however, reduce forceful intrusion to a comparatively minor factor. The data suggest that space for the intrusions was provided mainly by buckling, as a result of north-south compression, of the already tightly folded metamorphic rocks. The importance of the derivation of the granite from metamorphic rocks essentially in situ cannot yet be estimated.


Background: During previous influenza pandemics, many deaths were associated with secondary bacterial infection. In April 2009, a previously unknown 2009 influenza A virus (2009 H1N1) emerged, causing a global influenza pandemic. We examined the relationship between circulating 2009 H1N1 and the occurrence of secondary bacterial parapneumonic empyema in children. Methods: Children hospitalized with parapneumonic empyema from August 2004 to July 2009, including a period when the 2009 H1N1 circulated in Utah, were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. We compared the average number of children diagnosed with influenza A and the number of admissions for empyema per month for the previous 4 seasons to rates of empyema during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. We identified causative bacteria using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: We observed an increase in hospitalization of children with pneumonia complicated by empyema during a severe outbreak of 2009 H1N1 during the spring and summer of 2009, compared with historical data for the previous 4 seasons. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes were the predominant bacteria identified. Conclusions: Similar to previous pandemics, secondary bacterial infection with S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes were associated with the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. There is an urgent need to better understand bacterial complications of pandemic influenza. In the interim, influenza vaccines, antiviral agents, and pneumococcal vaccines should be used to prevent cases of secondary bacterial pneumonia whenever possible.


Background When including data from an external control arm to estimate comparative effectiveness, there is a methodological choice of when to set "time zero," the point at which a patient would be eligible/enrolled in a contemporary study. Where patients receive multiple lines of eligible therapy and thus alternative points could be selected, this issue is complex. Methods A simulation study was conducted in which patients received multiple prior lines of therapy before entering either cohort. The results from the control and intervention data sets are compared using 8 methods for selecting time zero. The base-case comparison was set up to be biased against the intervention (which is generally received later), with methods compared in their ability to estimate the true intervention effectiveness. We further investigate the impact of key study attributes (such as sample size) and degree of overlap in time-varying covariates (such as prior lines of therapy) on study results. Results Of the 8 methods, 5 (all lines, random line, systematically selecting groups based on mean absolute error, root mean square error, or propensity scores) showed good performance in accounting for differences between the line at which patients were included. The first eligible line can be statistically inefficient in some situations. All lines (with censoring) cannot be used for survival outcomes. The last eligible line cannot be recommended. Conclusions Multiple methods are available for selecting the most appropriate time zero from an external control arm. Based on the simulation, we demonstrate that some methods frequently perform poorly, with several viable methods remaining. In selecting between the viable methods, analysts should consider the context of their analysis and justify the approach selected. Highlights There are multiple methods available from which an analyst may select "time zero" in an external control cohort. This simulation study demonstrates that some methods perform poorly but most are viable options, depending on context and the degree of overlap in time zero across cohorts. Careful thought and clear justification should be used when selecting the strategy for a study.


A pre-requisite to reach the EU 2030 and beyond targets is a significantly increased ambition among property owners regarding energy-efficient refurbishments. The Swedish Energy Agency and the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning are on the Swedish government assignment developing a strategy with policy instruments to increase energy-efficiency oriented renovation. In order to design the right policy instruments, deeper knowledge is needed on the potential for energy efficiency and property owners' present actions. To gain more insight into these questions an interview study with 20 building owners, covering more than 15% of the Swedish property area of multi-family buildings, schools and offices were performed in 2016. The interviews aimed to identify how building owners reason on different energy saving levels, what level of energy efficiency they currently are realizing and what obstacles and possibilities they expect if they take further steps in energy renovation. The interviews were based on four different common packages of energy-efficiency measures defined as renovations levels: 4, 15, 30, and 50 percent respectively. In 2019 the strategy was updated based on follow up interviews with mainly the same building owners. The interview results were used, together with assumptions of future renovation rates, in a calculation tool called HEFTIG. This tool enables long term calculation and visualization of energy-efficiency measures. The present situation was compared with scenarios made in 2016 and new scenarios were developed for 2030, 2040 and 2050 for the Swedish building stock. The result is a "snapshot" is that the property owners' current actions are far from the cost-efficient potential and that the potential is larger for heating than for electricity. The results also show that the energy renovation rate has to increase in the near future if the EU targets should be reached.


The 1982 AANA Education Committee recently completed a survey of nurse anesthesia programs. The survey was designed to yield data to be used to determine trends and make decisions. Results of the survey are presented here. Of the 144 programs to which questionnaires were mailed, 115 programs, or 80%, responded. More recent data obtained from the AANA Executive Office is incorporated in the results in some instances.


A large pressure vessel that had been in service as a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) absorber developed cracks and began leaking at a nozzle. The vessel contained a 20% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium carbonate (K2CO3), and arsenic. The vessel wall was manufactured of ASTM A516, grade 70, low-carbon steel plate. A steel angle had been formed into a ring was continuously welded to the inside wall of the vessel. The groove formed by the junction of the lower tray-support weld and the top part of the weld around the nozzle was found to have a crack. Pits and scale near the crack origin were revealed by microscopic examination and cracking was found to be transgranular. Periods of corrosion alternated with sudden instances of cleavage, under a tensile load, along preferred slip planes were interpreted during examination with a microscope. It was concluded that the combination of the residual plus operating stresses and the amount of KOH present would have caused stress corrosion as a result of caustic embrittlement. It was recommended that the tray support should be installed higher on the vessel wall to prevent coincidence of the lower tray-support weld with the nozzle weld.


The financial systems of the Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) are at a crucial juncture. After a history of recurrent instability and crisis (a trademark of the region), they now seem well poised for rapid expansion. Since the last wave of financial crises that swept through the region in the late 1990s and early 2000s, financial systems in LAC have continued to gain in soundness, depth, and diversity. The size of banking systems has increased, albeit from a low base; local currency bond markets have greatly developed, both in volumes and in reach over the yield curve; stock markets have expanded; and derivative markets particularly currency derivatives have grown and multiplied. Institutional investors have become more important relative to banks, making the financial system more complex and diversified. Importantly, much progress has been made in financial inclusion, particularly through the expansion of payments, savings, and credit services to lower income households and microenterprises. As evidence of their new soundness and resiliency, financial systems in the region, except in some Caribbean countries, weathered the recent global financial crisis remarkably well. The progress in financial development in LAC no doubt reflects substantial improvements in the enabling environment, lower macroeconomic volatility, more independent and better-anchored currencies, increased financial liberalization, lower currency mismatches and foreign debt exposures, enhanced effectiveness of regulation and supervision, and notable improvements in the underlying market infrastructures (for example, trading, payments, custody, clearing, and settlement). This regional flagship report aims at providing such a stocktaking and forward looking assessment of the region's financial development. Rather than going into detail about sector-specific issues, the report focuses on the main architectural issues, overall perspectives, and interconnections. The value added of the report thus hinges on its holistic view of the development process, its broad coverage of the financial services industry (not just banking), its emphasis on benchmarking, its systemic perspective, and its explicit effort to incorporate the lessons from the recent global financial crisis.


In Texas, a number of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge structures have developed early cracking that has been attributed to, or at least suspected to be from, alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and possibly delayed ettringite formation (DEF). An area of concern is the structural performance of D-regions in RC bridge bents that have varying levels of cracking from ASR and/or DEF. A research program was carried out to assess the experimental behavior of D-regions using large-scale specimens under varying levels of premature concrete deterioration, and to perform conventional code-based analyses and three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analyses to evaluate the behavior of the D-region. This paper, documenting part of the research program, provides a brief overview of ASR and DEF; documents the design, construction, curing conditions, and instrumentation of four large-scale specimens used to assess the structural performance of D-regions in RC bridge bents; and presents the findings during the specimen exposure phase, which includes the effects of forces from gravity loading, propagation of crack directions and widths, and resulting expansions, both that are internal and those at the surface of the specimens.


Recent work on the ultimate sensitivity of radiation detectors is reviewed and discussed. It is shown that the validity of Clark Jones' treatment is more restricted than was supposed. By an extension of his argument a general method is obtained giving the ultimate sensitivity throughout the region of the electromagnetic spectrum in which the limit is set by temperature radiation. It is found that Clark Jones' method, suitably interpreted, is a useful approximation in most practical cases. The method is applied to a number of detectors. The well-known result for the noise level in a radio antenna is confirmed. The performance of certain photo-multipliers and photo-conductive infra-red cells is assessed. It is found that the sensitivities of recent lead telluride cells closely approach the ultimate limit corresponding to room temperature. Consequently, improvements to these cells cannot give rise to substantially increased sensitivity unless the cells are used in cooled enclosures.


We present the results of the optical observations of clusters of galaxies trough photometric observations with RTT150 telescope. We have selected a sample of 10 nearby (z < 1.2) Abell clusters from the northern sky. Properties of the extended X-ray intra-cluster medium (ICM) are studied using Chandra and XMM-Newton archival data. Considering possible relations of X-ray and radio plasma, the extended radio halo and jets are studied. The intent of our observations is to map galaxy densities in the optical band and to deflne sub-clustering if there is any. The X-ray (temperature and metal distributions) and radio features, combined with galaxy distributions are used to diagnose morphology, structure and evolutional history of the clusters.


Zimbabwean fiction writers have engaged with dogs as objects, subjects and even actors. This essay focuses on the pivotal forty-year period between 1975 and 2015, which saw the end of white rule, the rise of an independent African state and the collapse of that state. In analysing how selected writers have variously made use of dogs, we discuss the extent to which writers deal with human-dog relations. We buttress our point by examining key pieces of fiction in which dogs appear and we unpack the extent to which fictive representations of humans and dogs approximate lived relations in pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial settings. We show the enduring relevance of dogs as metaphors of power in the Zimbabwean political landscape. We contend that such canine allegories have a history and explore their usage by creative writers over the last forty years.


The field of uncertainty quantification is evolving rapidly because of increasing emphasis on models that require quantified uncertainties for large-scale applications, novel algorithm development, and new computational architectures that facilitate implementation of these algorithms. Uncertainty Quantification: Theory, Implementation, and Applications provides readers with the basic concepts, theory, and algorithms necessary to quantify input and response uncertainties for simulation models arising in a broad range of disciplines. The book begins with a detailed discussion of applications where uncertainty quantification is critical for both scientific understanding and policy. It then covers concepts from probability and statistics, parameter selection techniques, frequentist and Bayesian model calibration, propagation of uncertainties, quantification of model discrepancy, surrogate model construction, and local and global sensitivity analysis. The author maintains a complementary web page where readers can find data used in the exercises and other supplementary material. Uncertainty Quantification: Theory, Implementation, and Applications includes a large number of definitions and examples that use a suite of relatively simple models to illustrate concepts; numerous references to current and open research issues; and exercises that illustrate basic concepts and guide readers through the numerical implementation of algorithms for prototypical problems. It also features a wide range of applications, including weather and climate models, subsurface hydrology and geology models, nuclear power plant design, and models for biological phenomena, along with recent advances and topics that have appeared in the research literature within the last 15 years, including aspects of Bayesian model calibration, surrogate model development, parameter selection techniques, and global sensitivity analysis. Audience: The text is intended for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in mathematics, statistics, operations research, computer science, biology, science, and engineering. It can be used as a textbook for one- or two-semester courses on uncertainty quantification or as a resource for researchers in a wide array of disciplines. A basic knowledge of probability, linear algebra, ordinary and partial differential equations, and introductory numerical analysis techniques is assumed. Contents: Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: Large-Scale Applications; Chapter 3: Prototypical Models; Chapter 4: Fundamentals of Probability, Random Processes, and Statistics; Chapter 5: Representation of Random Inputs; Chapter 6: Parameter Selection Techniques; Chapter 7: Frequentist Techniques for Parameter Estimation; Chapter 8: Bayesian Techniques for Parameter Estimation; Chapter 9: Uncertainty Propagation in Models; Chapter 10: Stochastic Spectral Methods; Chapter 11: Sparse Grid Quadrature and Interpolation Techniques; Chapter 12: Prediction in the Presence of Model Discrepancy; Chapter 13: Surrogate Models; Chapter 14: Local Sensitivity Analysis; Chapter 15: Global Sensitivity Analysis; Appendix A: Concepts from Functional Analysis; Bibliography; Index


Background/aim The aim of this paper was to determine the general tendencies of urology patients and effect of COVID-19 pandemic on daily urological practice at tertiary centers located in the most affected area in Turkey. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 39,677 patients (group 1) that applied to 6 different large-volume tertiary centers in İstanbul for outpatient consultation, surgery, or other procedures in the 3-month period between March 16 and June 14, 2020. The distribution of the number of patients who applied to subspecialty sections of urology outpatient clinics and inpatient services were recorded by weeks. That data was compared to data obtained from 145,247 patients that applied to the same centers in the same period of the previous year (group 2). The reflection of worldwide and Turkish COVID-19 case distribution on the daily urological practice was analyzed. Results There was a decrease in the number of patients in all subspecialty sections the in group 1 compared to group 2; however, there was a significant proportional increase in urooncology and general urology admissions. A decrease of approximately 75% was observed in the total number of surgeries (p < 0.001). We detected a negative correlation between the numbers of admission to all outpatient clinics and COVID-19 cases or deaths in Turkey (p < 0.05). The same negative correlation was present for all surgical procedures and consultations (p < 0.05). The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the number of cases in Turkey, and the number of deaths worldwide affect the number of outpatient clinic admissions (R2 = 0.38, p = 0.028) and urological surgery (R2 = 0.33, p = 0.020) in Turkey negatively. Conclusion This novel pandemic has implications even for urology practice. Urological surgical procedures were more affected by COVID-19-related deaths in Turkey and worldwide. Outpatient admissions and urological surgeries decreased significantly by increasing COVID-19 case numbers in Turkey and worldwide deaths.


This paper adds to the debate about the role of nuclear power in sustainable development by providing an overview of its current status and future prospects in Europe. The main economic and environmental concerns that nuclear energy could mitigate – energy dependency, air pollution and climate change – are analysed over three time frames. Particularly important are five problematic features of nuclear energy: waste management, proliferation security, operation safety, economic competitiveness and public acceptance. The main conclusion is that Europe's nuclear capacity is unlikely to change significantly over the next two decades. Its prospects beyond 2025 will depend on the relative weight given to the benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power, as well as the long-term sustainability implications of the use of all energy resources.


The code RETRASO (REactive TRAnsport of SOlutes) simulates reactive transport of dissolved and gaseous species in non-isothermal saturated or unsaturated problems. Possible chemical reactions include aqueous complexation (including redox reactions), sorption, precipitation-dissolution of minerals and gas dissolution. Various models for sorption of solutes on solids are available, from experimental relationships (linear KD, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms) to cation exchange and surface complexation models (constant capacitance, diffuse layer and triple layer models). Precipitation-dissolution and aqueous complexation can be modelled in equilibrium or according to kinetic laws. For the numerical solution of the reactive transport equations it uses the Direct Substitution Approach. The use of the code is demonstrated by three examples. The first example models various sorption processes in a smectite barrier. The second example models a complex chemical system in a two dimensional cross-section. The last example models pyrite weathering in an unsaturated medium.


Pump–probe studies of localized excess electrons in liquid KCl have been performed at probe wavelengths between 600 and 1530 nm at elevated temperatures. After photoexcitation with 50 fs pulse centred at 800 nm a transient bleach is observed at wavelengths between 600 and 1245 nm while at wavelengths longer than 1300 nm only a transient absorption is observed. The transient bleach recovery can be assigned to the lifetime of strongly localized electrons (F-centres) and represents ground state dynamics with a time constant of (200 ± 50) fs, in reasonable agreement with theoretical calculations for polaron-like states in liquid K–KCl. The transient absorption at longer wavelengths, that decays with the same time constant, might be due to weakly localized electrons. Consequently, the ionic motion of the alkali halide melt determines the dynamics in this system. These investigations represent the first direct ultrafast study with fs time resolution of localized electrons in the molten K–KCl sytems.


Background: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues on the blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, islet β-cell function and pre-diabetes of the children.
Methods: Prospective and randomized controlled clinical trial was done on 82 cases of newly diagnosed pre-diabetes in children. First group was comprised of 41 subjects of lifestyle intervention group i.e. control group and the second group were comprised of 41 subject of lifestyle intervention+GLP-1 analogs liraglutide group i.e. observation group. Interventions were done lasted for 3 months. Review of intervention was done at 1 month and at after the 3 months. We carried out the medical examinations at the time when the patient had been diagnosed with prediabetes and after the intervention of 3 months. The medical test examinations includes the Fasting Blood Glucose (FPG), 2 h Postprandial Blood Glucose (2hPG), detection of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C), Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), BMI, insulin resistance and the islet cell functions.
Results: After the 1 month of intervention, the observation group showed a better control on FPG and 2hPG compared with the control group (P<0.05). The levels of HbA1C, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, and BMI of the observation group were statistically better controlled, when compared with the control group after the intervention of 3 months. The insulin resistance index of the observation group was significantly decreased than that of the control group (P<0.05) and the islet function index of the β cell of the observation group showed statistically higher values than that of the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: GLP-1 analogs could be a better controller of blood sugar levels, effectively improve lipid profile, body mass, insulin resistance and islet β-cell function. Furthermore, GLP-1 analogs open up a new way to intervene pre-diabetes in children.


A situation analysis of communication disabilities ofand services to this population in the RSA reveals a lack ofknowledge about the field and a paucity of research, probably due to therapists' extreme involvement in clinical practice. In this article the advantages of single case experimentation are putforward and specific designs are discussed in an attempt to motivate and enable clinicians to be producers of research. It is pointed out that this type of research will not only add valuable scientific information to the field of speech pathology and audiology, but it will also increase accountability in clinical practice.


The creation of robust mechanisms for uncertain inference is central to the development of Artificial General Intelligence systems. While probability theory provides a principled foundation for uncertain inference, the mathematics of probability theory has not yet been developed to the point where it is possible to handle every aspect of the uncertain inference process in practical situations using rigorous probabilistic calculations. Due to the need to operate within realistic computational resources, probability theory presently requires augmentation with heuristics in order to be pragmatic for general intelligence (as well as for other purposes such as large-scale data analysis).

The authors have been involved with the creation of a novel, general framework for pragmatic probabilistic inference in an AGI context, called Probabilistic Logic Networks (PLN). PLN integrates probability theory with a variety of heuristic inference mechanisms; it encompasses a rich set of first-order and higher-order inference rules, and it is highly flexible and adaptive, and easily configurable. This paper describes a single, critical aspect of the PLN framework, which has to with the quantification of uncertainty. In short, it addresses the question: What should an uncertain truth value be, so that a general intelligence may use it for pragmatic reasoning?

We propose a new approach to quantifying uncertainty via a hybridization of Walley's theory of imprecise probabilities and Bayesian credible intervals. This "indefinite probability" approach provides a general method for calculating the "weight-of-evidence" underlying the conclusions of uncertain inferences. Moreover, both Walley's imprecise beta-binomial model and standard Bayesian inference can be viewed mathematically as special cases of the more general indefinite probability model. Via exemplifying the use of indefinite probabilities in a variety of PLN inference rules (including exact and heuristic ones), we argue that this mode of quantifying uncertainty may be adequate to serve as an ingredient of powerful artificial general intelligence.


13.1 Introduction Astronomers recognized in the mid-1960s that an expensive single large-aperture optical telescope could be divided into a series of less-expensive smaller apertures that were coherently interconnected to provide nearly the same performance as that given by the large single aperture. The penalties were an increase in the integration time and more-extensive ground data processing required to reconstruct an image. Also, extensive real-time control software and
hardware were needed to maintain the alignment of the telescope subsystems. The Michelson stellar interferometer (MSI) is an example of a two-aperture sparse-aperture telescope. The MSI samples the MCF at only one spatial frequency (determined by the separation of the telescopes) and at one azimuth of the two-dimensional MCF. For some astronomical applications, such as astrometry or stellar atmospheres studies, the MSI is a very productive system. The MSI and its astronomical applications are discussed in detail in Chapter 14. Radio astronomers and electrical engineers developed innovative image-reconstruction techniques using sparse apertures with multiple radio telescopes. These innovators then digitally processed the data to create or synthesize an image. In the radio region of the spectrum, it is well known that sparse apertures are a cost-effective means of obtaining data to reconstruct very high-spatial-resolution images. At radio frequencies, the noise temperature of the receiver, sometimes called the antenna temperature, dominates the SNR. In the UV, optical, and near-IR region of the spectrum, the SNR is dominated by the signal-photon arrival rates, which are established by the nature (color and brightness) of the source and not the receiver(s). In the radio region of the spectrum, both the
amplitude and the phase of the received signal are recorded. At optical frequencies, in white light (where a heterodyne process cannot be used), the phase cannot be directly recorded. In optical/IR astronomy, a telescope fulfills two functions. The large continuous aperture collects energy to observe faint sources at the angular resolution that is characteristic of its extent. The outside area of the aperture collects the radiation needed to give high angular resolution.


We in medicine have a heritage coming down to us through the ages, from the widespread interest in writing about, and talking about, medicine and its problems. This can be taken as an inspiring challenge in our work. We know that there can never be perfection, and may feel about our patients as Marcus Aurelius did about his people, in that he could not give them what they deserved, or what he would like them to have. But he gave his life in trying, and left us part of our heritage from nonmedical sources. For these reasons, it seemed worth while to look further into our situation, from the standpoint of what others may think of us, and write about us, in the pursuit of the ever-popular, and ever-present, subject of medicine and the health of the individual . Health problems, along with truth, as Socrates said, belong to everyone; and


This paper analyses the potential effects of commercial banks' expansion into the securities business in the context of the contemporary theory of financial intermediation. The analysis focuses on the gains claimed to emerge with that expansion, particularly the gains due to information advantages and economies of scope, and on the costs also claimed to arise with it; namely, those due to conflicts of interest and safety and soundness considerations. The paper ends with a discussion on how these effects depend on the location of the securities unit within the banking conglomerate.


Two important ingredients of personal care products, namely polycyclic musk fragrances and UV filters, can be found in the environment and in humans. In previous studies, several compounds of both classes have been tested for their interaction with the estrogen receptor. Two polycyclic musk fragrances, namely AHTN and HHCB, turned out to be anti-estrogenic both in vitro and in vivo in a transgenic zebrafish assay. Several UV filters have been shown to exert estrogenic effects in vitro and in some in vivo studies. Here, we assessed the interaction of five polycyclic musk compounds and seven UV filters with the estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), and progesterone (PR) receptor, using sensitive and specific reporter gene cell lines. Four polycyclic musks (AHTN, HHCB, AETT, and AHMI) were found to be antagonists toward the ERbeta, AR and PR. The UV filters that showed estrogenic effects (benzophenone-3, Bp-3; 3-benzylidene camphor, 3-BC; homosalate, HMS; and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 4-MBC) were found to be antagonists toward the AR and PR. The ERalpha agonistic UV filter octyl-dimethyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (OD-PABA) did not show activity toward the AR and PR. Octyl methoxy cinnamate (OMC) showed weak ERalpha agonism, but potent PR antagonism. Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (B-MDM) only showed weak ERalpha agonism and weak AR antagonism. Most effects were observed at relatively high concentrations (above 1 muM); however, the anti-progestagenic effects of the polycyclic musks AHMI and AHTN were detected at concentrations as low as 0.01 muM. The activity of anti-progestagenic xenobiotics at low concentrations indicates the need to undertake more research to find out about the potential endocrine disrupting effects of these compounds in vivo.


The mode volume and Purcell factor are two important parameters to assess the performance of optical nanocavities. Achieving small mode volumes and high Purcell factors for nanocavity structures while simplifying their fabrication has been a major task to realize high-performance and large-scale photonic devices and systems. Different optical resonators based on nanoparticle-on-mirror (NPoM) structures are systematically analyzed, which are easy to fabricate and flexible to use. Direct comparison of these optical resonators is made through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The achievement of ultrasmall mode volumes below 10-7 (λ/n)3 based on the NPoM structure through FDTD simulations is demonstrated by rationally selecting the structural parameters. Such NPoM structures provide a decent Purcell factor on the order of 107 , which can effectively enhance spontaneous emission and facilitate a number of photonic applications. The simulation results are confirmed by dark field scattering and second-harmonic generation measurements. This work is scientifically important and offers practical guidelines for the design of optical resonators for state-of-the-art optical and photonic devices.


Aim: Consanguineous marriages are common in Pakistan despite their declining popularity in the developed world. In the present study, a questionnaire based survey was used to record the attitudes and perceptions of consanguineous marriages among the sample population.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed to collect information on the acceptability of, and perceptions about, consanguineous marriages among patients presenting to family physicians, at the Family Practice Center of the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Demographic data was collected as part of the questionnaire. Each participating patient signed a consent form after assurance of confidentiality was provided.

Results: A total of 393 patients were surveyed. The mean age of the study population was 29.4 years, 165 (42%) were men and 228 (58%) were women. The majority were married, well educated and were students, in private or government service or self employed. One hundred (25%) of the respondents were either married or were planning to marry their first cousin, and 57 (14%) their second cousin. The main reasons in favor of consanguineous marriages were quoted as: 'arranged marriage', 'it is healthy to marry within the family' and 'it is traditional'. Some 271 (69%) of the respondents said 'yes' to their son or daughter marrying within the family. Constraints of religion, status, caste, family differences and the fear of incompatibility were among the reasons quoted as difficulties in finding a mate outside the family. Neurological diseases, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were quoted as diseases resulting from consanguineous marriages. Security of knowing the mate in the family, culture and religion, and having more information about the mate before marriage were quoted as reasons for the continued popularity of consanguineous marriages in Pakistan.

Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a high degree of acceptability of consanguineous marriages among the study population and documented factors influencing such marriages. We recommend further studies, intervention strategies and debate on the issue.

2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia and Wonca


Although the problems between the Church and the State were smaller in Chile than in other countries such as Mexico, it is an emblematic case of the consequences of the archbishop succession (1878-1886), during that time it was shown on the capitol's press the conservative mentality that defended the church's prerogatives over the State, as well as their influence over the society, versus the criticism that this position originated particularly on the satirical press. Two opposite positions can be observed, that used different strategies for spreading and consolidating their ideals on both the Chilean and Santiago societies.


The trickle-down model of abusive supervision points out that the negative effect of abusive supervisory behaviors will be imitated by the subordinates and transmits along the organizational hierarchy. An important question arises herein as when and how this negative effect will be stopped or alleviated. In this study, we examine the positive relationship between abusive supervisory behavior and abusive subordinate behavior and the negative relationship between subordinates' abusive behavior and service performance in teams from hospitality industry. Moreover, we posit that two team-level cultural values (power distance and traditional values) moderate the trickle-down effect of abusive supervision. Data were obtained from 266 supervisor–subordinate dyads in the hotel industry in China. The hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) results revealed that (1) abusive supervision positively predicts abusive subordinate behavior, (2) abusive subordinate behavior negatively predicts service performance, and (3) both traditional and power distance values mitigate the negative effects of abusive supervision in the supervisor–subordinate relationship. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.


Becoming adept at crafting scholarly writing is an important aspect of a doctoral student's development.  Presented in this article is an EdD course, embedded writing scaffold that engages students and faculty to develop students' scholarly inquiry projects.  That scaffold is the Applied Inquiry Plan (AIP).  The AIP creates a programmatic pathway to guide a Dissertation in Practice.  Working to improve the quality and value of scholar practitioner writing parallels and draws from efforts in the biomedical fields to develop writing guidelines that impact the quality and value of practice.  Creating and using the AIP provides opportunities for broad discussion of how to engage EdD students to view their writing as an epistemological tool.  Discussed is the AIP impact on EdD program redesign and improvement.


Energy is a nonrenewable resource. Hence, long-term sustainable development cannot be guaranteed by an increase in energy efficiency but to use the least energy as possible. Therefore, this article builds an index of low-energy development (LEDI) to describe the shift from high-energy development to LEDI. This research, which uses Chinese provincial data set, reveals that the LEDI of China is at the low level, but has a significant upward trend after 2005.


Over the last decade, tremendous research has been focused on the synthesis and applications of hierarchically porous materials. Hierarchical porous materials have enhanced materials' properties compared to those with unimodal pore structure. Owing to their structure, a large series of domains have a fervent interest in hierarchically porous materials. This thesis is aimed at designing a new reaction system to develop hierarchically porous metal alkoxides with novel porosities via a spontaneous self-formation procedure. Furthermore, this thesis is also aimed at investigating the possible formation mechanism based on the self-formation procedure, and also the photocatalytic performance and adsorption capacity of the hierarchically porous metal alkoxides. The objective of this thesis is to fabricate a series of hierarchically porous materials with different porosities by adjusting the spontaneous self-formation procedure from metal alkoxides via novel strategies. In this thesis, we developed a novel water-adjusting method in order to adjust the amount of water in the reaction system thus controlling the self-formation procedure. Acetonitrile and methanol were used as the examples to be the reaction mediums here. On the basis of this novel strategies, a series of metal oxides with diverse porous structures had been synthesized, which would be suitable for a variety of applications from catalysis, to separation or environmental remediation. The evolution of the porosity of textural properties of metal oxides, formed from the addition of metal alkoxide to a water-acetonitrile system, with increasing water content was carefully investigated and summarized. The formation mechanism of hierarchically porous metal oxides in a water-acetonitrile system had been discussed in detail. Furthermore, the spontaneous self-formation process to form hierarchically porous titania in methanol was also studied in this thesis. More importantly, the hierarchically 3D dendrimeric nanostructures formation process had been successfully investigated in situ by optical microscopy from Leica microsystem. The resultant hierarchically porous metal oxides were used as photocatalysts and adsorbents for dye molecule depollution and presented very high activities. In addition, hydrothermal and surfactant treatment to enhance the photocatalytic activity of hierarchically meso-macroporous titanias was also demonstrated in this thesis.


Working memory is an essential component of higher cognitive function, and its impairment is a core symptom of multiple CNS disorders, including schizophrenia. Neuronal mechanisms supporting working memory under normal conditions have been described andincludepersistent,high-frequencyactivityofprefrontalcorticalneurons.However,littleisknownaboutthemolecularandcellular basis of working memory dysfunction in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders. To elucidate synaptic and neuronal mechanisms of working memory dysfunction, we have performed a comprehensive analysis of a mouse model of schizophrenia, the forebrain-specific calcineurin knock-out mouse. Biochemical analyses of cortical tissue from these mice revealed a pronounced hyperphosphorylation of synaptic vesicle cycling proteins known to be necessary for high-frequency synaptic transmission. Examination of the synaptic vesicle cycle in calcineurin-deficient neurons demonstrated an impairment of vesicle release enhancement during periods of intense stimulation. Moreover, brain slice and in vivo electrophysiological analyses showed that loss of calcineurin leads to a gene dose-dependent disruptionofhigh-frequencysynaptictransmissionandnetworkactivityinthePFC,correlatingwithselectiveworkingmemoryimpairment. Finally, we showed that levels of dynamin I, a key presynaptic protein and calcineurin substrate, are significantly reduced in prefrontalcorticalsamplesfromschizophreniapatients,extendingthediseaserelevanceofourfindings.Ourdataprovidesupportfora model in which impaired synaptic vesicle cycling represents a critical node for disease pathologies underlying the cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.


The notoriously inconsistent effects of cannabinoids on anxiety-like behaviour may be explained by recent research on CB1 receptor knockout (CB1-KO) mice suggesting that cannabinoids exert bidirectional effects via the CB1 receptor (anxiolysis) and a novel rimonabant-sensitive neuronal cannabinoid receptor (anxiogenesis). This hypothesis is supported by the anxiogenic-like profile of AM-251, an analogue of rimonabant that is a potent and selective CB1 receptor antagonist but which, unlike rimonabant, has no activity at the novel receptor. As we have previously shown that rimonabant reduces anxiety-like behaviour in test-experienced animals only, the current study assessed the effects of AM-251 (1.5–3.0 mg/kg) in male Swiss-Webster mice that were either plus-maze-naïve or had been exposed undrugged to the apparatus 24 h prior to testing. Results confirmed that prior maze experience per se significantly increases behavioural indices of anxiety without altering measures of general activity. In maze-naïve mice, the lower dose of AM-251 (1.5 mg/kg) significantly reduced % open-arm time and increased grooming while the higher dose (3.0 mg/kg) additionally reduced open-arm entries and total head-dipping, and increased closed-arm returns. These anxiogenic-like effects were observed in the absence of significant changes in general activity levels. Although AM-251 had a very similar profile in maze-experienced animals, significant drug effects on open-arm avoidance measures were precluded by experientially-induced changes in behavioural baselines (i.e. 'ceiling' effects). Nevertheless, AM-251 again significantly reduced total head-dipping and increased grooming (3.0 mg/kg) and, unlike effects in naïve animals, both doses markedly reduced time spent on the centre platform and increased time spent in the enclosed arms. Against a baseline of almost total open-arm avoidance, the pattern of behavioural change in maze-experienced mice would also be consistent with an anxiogenic-like action of AM-251. Data are discussed in relation to previous findings with rimonabant, the putative existence of a novel non-CB1 neuronal cannabinoid receptor and, more generally, the behavioural pharmacology of plus-maze 'trial 2'.


The paper finds that an increase in money supply over the long-run results in a higher rate of inflation and thus provides support for the quantity theory of money. It establishes that inflation is essentially a monetary phenomenon. However, the money supply does not instantly influence the price levels; the impact of money supply on inflation has a considerable lag of about 9 months. While the study shows that the money supply works through the system in less than a year, it also points out that the system takes rather long to converge to equilibrium if shocks appear in any of the three variables, viz., GDP, money supply, and prices.


Two national mechanisms regulate the humane treatment of the 20-40 million laboratory animals that are used annually for experimental purposes in the United States each year. They are: the Public Health Service policy (commonly called the National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy) of 1985, and the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 as amended, a federal law. National policies are constantly being strengthened. Until 1984, national policies covered mainly animal husbandry practices. But the 1985 revised NIH policy directly involves the laboratory for the first time by requiring protocol review for humane concerns. Protocol review of proposed experiments is to be conducted by Animal Care and Use Committees--the institutional oversight committees. It is with effective protocol review that the Refinement, Reduction, and Replacement (of Russell and Burch's three Rs) to reduce ethical costs of experiments can be made an everyday reality. With this new authority for Animal Care and Use Committees, and a mandate for broader representation in membership, the revised NIH policy should bring improvements. Proposals are currently being considered by the U.S. Congress to strengthen the Animal Welfare Act. This law is in need of revision since about 90% of the laboratory animals are currently excluded from its coverage. The Scientists Center for Animal Welfare has been active in identifying ways in which national policies can be strengthened. In particular, focus has been made on meaningful protocol review by institutional oversight committees. Some recommendations for effective oversight committees based on recent workshops conducted by the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare are described.


1. Sibenadet (Viozan), a dual dopamine D(2)/beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, suppresses histamine-induced tachypnoea in the dog by activating dopamine D(2) receptors. We here compare the effects of sibenadet and formoterol, a selective beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, on histamine-induced tachypnoea in the rhesus monkey. 2. Anaesthetized, spontaneously breathing, rhesus monkeys were set up for measuring airways resistance, respiratory rate, blood pressure and heart rate. 3. Both sibenadet and formoterol administered by aerosol, induced inhibition of the bronchoconstrictor response to aerosolized methacholine accompanied by tachycardia. Sibenadet, but not formoterol, also reduced blood pressure. 4. Administration of histamine by inhalation induced tachypnoea which was accompanied by bronchoconstriction. Tachypnoea to histamine was suppressed by both sibenadet and formoterol at doses which manifest anti-bronchoconstrictor activity. These effects and the accompanying tachycardia but not the hypotension induced by sibenadet were abolished by pretreatment with propranolol. 5. The dopamine D(2) receptor agonist, quinagolide, did not suppress tachypnoea to histamine despite inducing a fall in blood pressure indicating activation of dopamine D(2) receptors. 6. Thus, both sibenadet and formoterol suppress histamine-evoked tachypnoea in the rhesus monkey. The effect arises exclusively through activation of beta(2)-adrenoceptors and probably reflects the anti-bronchoconstrictor effects of these agents. The results reveal a fundamental difference in the role of dopamine receptors in the airways of dog and rhesus monkey.


Aims: We aimed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of huge hydatid cysts diagnosed at our clinic. Ruptured cysts have caused severe complications. Perforation of very large cysts is always possible. These can result in fatal complications. We present our surgical experience with large hydatid cysts in this paper. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 191 patients diagnosed as hydatid cysts who were treated surgically. Among these, 67 cases were studied with a dimension of 10 cm or more. Age, gender, symptom, ruptured or intact, dimension, quantity and radiologic findings of the cases were determined. Incipiency of complaint, postoperative morbidity and length of hospital stay for all cases were assessed. Results: The cases comprised 41 females and 26 males. The mean age was 20.20 ± 16.13 (5-52) years. Hospital stay for the huge and ruptured cysts group was 11.21 ± 4.04 days. The huge but unruptured cysts group had a hospital stay of 8.40 ± 2.48 days. All patients underwent thoracotomy. Cystotomy plus capitonnage in 52 (77.61%), decortication in addition to cystotomy plus capitonage in seven (10.6%), cystotomy in six (8.6%), cystotomy plus enucleation in one and primer closure in one were carried out. Postoperative mortality was absent; however, 17 cases were complicated; atelectasis was found in five cases, prolonged air leakage in five cases, apical aseptic pleural space in three cases, empyema in two cases, hemopthisis in one case and diaphragmatic elevation in one. Conclusions: Immediate surgery is of choice in giant cysts. Possibility of complication and longer stay in the ruptured group is higher compared with simple cystic disease.


The tension between measurements of the Hubble constant obtained at different redshifts may provide a hint of new physics active in the relatively early universe, around the epoch of matter-radiation equality. A leading paradigm to resolve the tension is a period of early dark energy, in which a scalar field contributes a subdominant part of the energy budget of the universe at this time. This scenario faces significant fine-tuning problems which can be ameliorated by a non-trivial coupling of the scalar to the standard model neutrinos. These become non-relativistic close to the time of matter-radiation equality, resulting in an energy injection into the scalar that kick-starts the early dark energy phase, explaining its coincidence with this seemingly unrelated epoch. We present a minimal version of this neutrino-assisted early dark energy model, and perform a detailed analysis of its predictions and theoretical constraints. We consider both particle physics constraints — that the model constitute a well-behaved effective field theory for which the quantum corrections are under control, so that the relevant predictions are within its regime of validity — and the constraints provided by requiring a consistent cosmological evolution from early through to late times. Our work paves the way for testing this scenario using cosmological data sets.


By analyzing fluid dynamics of blood in an artificial blood pump and simulating the flow field structure and the flow performance of blood, the blood flow and the damages in the designed blood pump would be better understood. This paper describes computational fluid dynamic (CFD) used in predicting numerically the hemolysis of blade in micro-axial blood pumps. A numerical hydrodynamical model, based on the Navier-Stokes equation, was used to obtain the flow in a micro-axial blood pump. A time-dependent stress acting on blood particle is solved in this paper to explore the blood flow and damages in the micro-axial blood pump. An initial attempt is also made to predict the blood damage from these simulations.


Analyses of carbon stable isotopes are often used to estimate the contributions of allochthonous and autochthonous dietary resources to aquatic consumers. Most pelagic food web studies assume that all phytoplankton taxa have a similar δ13C value. We studied pelagic food web compartments (dissolved inorganic carbon [DIC], phytoplankton, bacteria, seston, cladoceran zooplankton) in 12 small (< 0.1 km2) lakes in southern Finland. These lakes were classified as oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic, and dystrophic based on their concentrations of total phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon. Additionally, we studied phytoplankton photosynthetic carbon fractionation (ep) in laboratory conditions. The photosynthetic fractionation in 28 phytoplankton cultures from nine different phytoplankton classes varied significantly at the class level, and fractionation correlated significantly with the DIC concentration of the growth media. In small boreal lakes, the δ13C values of different phytoplankton taxa, as directly measured or estimated from the δ13C values of biomarker fatty acids, varied greatly (−18‰ to −44.5‰). Phytoplankton δ13C values varied significantly by lake type and were most depleted in dystrophic lakes even though the δ13C values of the DIC was similar to mesotrophic lakes. Further within-taxa variation was found between lakes and between different depths within a lake. Vertical samples from dystrophic lakes also showed lower ep in the phytoplankton from meta- and hypolimnion, possibly as a result of reduced light intensity. Altogether, in nine of the 10 sampled lakes, the δ13C values of cladoceran zooplankton were between the minimum and the maximum phytoplankton δ13C value of each lake, and thus, phytoplankton alone could explain zooplankton δ13C values. We conclude that stable isotope mixing models should take into account carbon variation among different phytoplankton taxa.


ABSTRACT While subnational authorities strongly mobilize in Brussels, they do not lobby all EU-level venues to the same extent. This article explains the varying intensity with which regional offices interact with various EU-level policy-making venues when seeking to influence EU policies. Theoretically, we complement an exchange-based perspective with political-institutional and contextual factors, such as regional political autonomy and the degree of preference alignment with key policy-making venues. To test our hypotheses, we rely on evidence collected through 33 face-to-face interviews with regional representations concerning their lobbying activities in four salient policy processes. Our results highlight that while most offices regularly interact with both national and supranational venues, the central government representation in Brussels is always, irrespective of what is at stake, the most important contact point. Furthermore, we also find that policy alignments shape venue selection, indicating some evidence of strategic manoeuvring.


BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is the most frequent new cancer diagnosis in the western world today. There is an urgent need to obtain validated molecular markers that can identify clinically significant prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS The article represents our view of the current status of molecular markers in diagnosis of prostate cancer based on literature searches (PubMed). RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a sensitive serum marker for pathology in the prostate (cancer, infection, benign hyperplasia). The level of PSA, however, is poorly correlated with grade and stage of prostate cancer. Genomic and proteomic methodology has recently been used to discover more then 200 putative new markers for prostate cancer like alpha-methylacyl CoA racemase (AMACR), hepsin, glutathione S-transferase pi, EZH2 and DD3(PCA3). To date, none of these markers have been adequately validated for clinical use. Knowledge about the role of these candidates in prostate cancer biology and evaluation of their correlation to clinical parameters will be of importance in the validation process.


ABSTRACT Through a nationally-representative household survey, we measured the prevalence and correlates of unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) in Zambia and its association with the HIV care continuum. Adolescent and adult (ages 15–59 years) data, including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), from the 2016 Zambia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, were analyzed. UAU was defined as AUDIT-C of 3 + points for women and 4 + for men. Among 20,923 participants, 15.3% had UAU; this was 21.6% among people living with HIV (PLWH). Male sex, increasing age, being employed, urban residence, and having HIV were independent correlates of UAU (all P < 0.05). Among PLWH, UAU was associated with reduced HIV diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.88) and non-significant trends toward reduced ART use if diagnosed (AOR: 0.73, 95% CI 0.73–1.10) and reduced viral suppression (VS) if on ART (AOR: 0.91, 95% CI 0.57–1.44). Overall, UAU was linked to 25% lower odds of VS compared to abstinence. UAU in Zambia disproportionately affects certain groups including PLWH. Achieving and sustaining HIV epidemic control in Zambia will require evidence-based approaches to screen and treat UAU.


Abstract. This is the second of two papers on observational timeseries of top of ocean heat capture. The first reports hourly and daily meridional central tropical Pacific top 3 m timeseries showing high Southern Hemisphere evaporation (2.67 m yr−1) and Northern Hemisphere trapped heat (12 MJ m−2 day−1). We suggested that wind drift/geostrophic stratified gyre circulation transported warm water to the Arctic and led to three phases of Arctic basal ice melt and fluxes of brackish nutrient-rich waters to north Atlantic on centennial timescales. Here we examine daily top metre 1904–2012 timeseries at Isle of Man west coast ~54° N for evidence of tropical and polar surface waters. We compare these to Central England (CET) daily land-air temperatures and to Arctic floating ice heat content and extent. We find three phases of ocean surface heating consistent with basal icemelt buffering greenhouse gas warming until a regime shift post-1986 led to the modern surface temperature rise of ~1 °C in 20 yr. Three phases were: warming +0.018 °C yr−1 from 1904–1939, slight cooling −0.002 °C yr−11940–86 and strong warming +0.037 °C yr−1 1986–2012. For the same periods CET land-air showed: warming +0.015 °C yr−1, slight cooling −0.004 °C yr−1, about half SST warming at +0.018 °C yr−1. The mid-century cooling and a 1959/1963 hot/cold event is consistent with sunspot/solar radiation maximum 1923–2008 leading to record volumes of Arctic ice meltwater and runoff that peaked in 1962/3 British Isles extreme cold winter. The warming Arctic resulted in wind regime and surface water regime shifts post 1986. This coincides with the onset of rapid Arctic annual ice melt. Continued heat imbalance is likely to lead to tidewater glacier basal icemelt and future sealevel rise after remaining relatively stable over 4000 yr. Our work needs confirmation by further fieldwork concentrating on the dynamics and thermodynamics of ocean top 3 m that controls the 93 % anthropogenic global warming in the oceans. This may be done most cost-effectively through focussed multidisciplinary scientific research adaptively managed and funded.


The growth of Aspergillus niger (NRRL 1785) was investigated and monitored over a five-day fermentation period. Acid protease synthesis by this fungus was also investigated during the period. The effect of growth of Aspergillus niger on acid protease synthesis was determined. Some of the physicochemical properties of the acid protease were examined. The growth curve obtained for Aspergillus niger revealed four phases of growth which are the lag phase, the exponential phase, the deceleration phase and the death phase. Acid protease synthesis by Aspergillus niger increased in direct proportion to growth up to the early hours of the death phase. Maximum enzyme synthesis was obtained at the 96th hour of fermentation, which was 12 hours into the death phase. The acid protease synthesized had optimum pH of 4.0, while the enzyme was stable (60% relative activity and above) over a wide range of pH 2.5 - 5.5. The optimum temperature for acid protease was determined to be 500C. The enzyme was also stable up to this temperature (500C) at pH 4.0 for 1 hour. Calcium ions had activating effect on the acid protease while sodium and mercury ions had inhibitory effects. The results obtained in this paper show a direct correlation between the growth of Aspergillus niger and acid protease synthesis, hence the particular phase of growth of Aspergillus niger determines the extent of enzyme yield by the fungus.

Key words: Proteolytic enzyme; Acid protease; microbes; Aspergillus niger
(Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2003 9(4): 523-528)


Problem solving is regarded by many educators as the most meaningful and important way of learning and thinking. The ability to aptly apply cognitive skills in problem solving is considered as the fundamental and crucial aspect in a human life. Problems are generally classified and represented by a continuum from well-structured to ill-structured (IS). Both well- and ill-structured problems are different in nature. Well-structured problems are often used in classroom while the ill-structured problems are normally confronted in the real world. Many studies have indicated that Malaysian graduates do not possess the required problem solving skills to meet the societal and industrial demands, especially with the increase in complexity of problems in this millennium. This study explored the cognitive processes and pathways used by Malaysian undergraduate business degree students (UBD) in solving ill-structured (IS) MS problems. The crux of Management Science (MS) is to equip students in problem solving skills during their formal education. A sample 42 UBD students from six tertiary institutions were selected for this case study. Obtrusive observations and in-depth interviews were conducted as techniques for data collection. The cognitive processes were determined from behaviour and performance exhibited by participants while they were delineating the concepts, propositions and strategies in their solution paths. The problem solving sessions using the "think aloud" approach were audio- and video-recorded. All written responses and transcripts of video-recordings and interviews in the problem solving sessions were transcribed, analysed, triangulated and classified into episodes of strategies for the interpretations of the cognitive processes. The findings from this study reveal that non-linear pattern of cognitive processes was evident. The pathway to solving the problem had influenced the individual"s decision-making outcomes. However, there were similarities and differences in cognitive processes between successful and unsuccessful solvers. The study suggests significant implications for the development of effective MS pedagogies and improvements in the design of instructional materials. It is anticipated that problem solving skills of UBD could be enhanced through the learning ability in solving the MS ill-structured problem during their formal education, henceforth, meeting the challenges of societal and industrial demands and expectations.


The adaptation of the patient to the conditions of chronic illness makes the information given to the patient one of the most powerful strategies, capable of contributing to a change in the social representation of the patient, from that of a mere clinical case to that of a holistic being. The objective of this study was to investigate the scientific work published in periodicals indexed by the Medline and Lilacs databases between 1990 and 2006 as to the informative act and the different forms in which information is provided to oncology patients. This analysis of the literature led to the conclusion that there has been an increase in the volume of publications, underlining the role of the oncology patient as a catalyst for new strategies for psychosocial adjustment and revealing her key role through her status as a 'professional patient'.


As a commonly misunderstood topic, craftsmanship is often seen as a primarily anachronistic act that fails to play a meaningful role in contemporary culture. However, as many critics have recognized, craftsmanship suggests a way of working that extends beyond manual labour as an attitude towards work. As an attitude, craftsmanship can be reevaluated as a process which results in the pursuit of things well-made.

To investigate this position, different viewpoints towards the process of craftsmanship are discussed from which a set of strategies are anticipated. These strategies have then been applied to an existing building in order verify which methods can be generalized and which remain specific. Through four unique design interventions an expressive, material based architecture is developed that appropriately responds to the buildings' original craftsmanship.

Through this new perspective craftsmanship can be brought to life as both a valid and valuable way of working in contemporary architecture.


Greenhouse production has increased over the last decades in the Mediterranean region. Greenhouses allow protecting crops from adverse climate conditions, creating microclimate conditions appropriate for obtaining high production with high quality all over the year. However, greenhouse production is generally associated with high environmental impacts due to the use of high amounts of resource inputs and the high quantity of waste generated. Sustainable greenhouse production is nowadays a goal and can be achieved by using appropriate technologies such as innovating crop practices and environmental control techniques allowing reducing agro-chemicals, water, and energy consumption. Organic farming is based on methods and practices that try to protect the environment (soil, water, air), which includes limitation on the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and the use of on-site resources, such as livestock manure for fertilizer. Demand for food produced without using agro-chemicals has increased; usually these products are sold at high price and associated to a particular nutritional value, taste and health. It is generally associated with lower yield and better quality. Greenhouse organic farming is not widely applied as farmers believe that yields are strongly reduced. However, there is a market opportunity to organic farming as a result of higher product prices and consumers demand. In order to compare the overall efficiency of crop farming systems, it is vital to consider energy consumption and efficiency. In this work, a case study is analysed in terms of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The data were obtained directly from the grower and the main objective of this work was to characterize the organic greenhouse production system. The most important inputs were identified and compared with others obtained with conventional greenhouse production. Results showed that organic greenhouse uses less energy ha-1 and t-1 of produced tomatoes than the conventional greenhouses.


The concomitant HIV and TB epidemics pose an enormous threat to humanity. After invading the host Mycobacterium tuberculosis initially behaves as an intracellular pathogen, which elicits the emergence of acquired specific resistance in the form of a T-helper-1 T-cell response, and involves the secretion of a myriad of cytokines and chemokines to drive protective immunity and granuloma formation. However, after that, a second phase of the disease process involves survival of bacilli in an extracellular state that is still poorly understood. This article briefly reviews the various strategies currently being used to improve both vaccination and drug therapy of TB, and attempts to make the argument that current viewpoints that dominate [both the field and the current literature] may be seriously flawed. This includes both the choice of new vaccine and drug candidates, and also the ways these are being tested in animal models, which in the opinion of the author run the risk of driving the field backwards rather than forward.


This paper develops what is essentially a simplified version of the block-iterative operator splitting method already proposed by the author and P. Combettes, but with more general initialization conditions. It then describes one way of implementing this algorithm asynchronously under a computing model inspired by modern HPC environments, which consist of interconnected nodes each having multiple processor cores sharing a common local memory. The asynchronous implementation framework is then applied to derive an asynchronous algorithm which resembles the ADMM with an arbitrary number of blocks of variables. Unlike earlier proposals for asynchronous ADMMlike methods, the algorithm relies neither on probabilistic control nor on restrictive assumptions about the problem instance, instead making only standard convex-analytic regularity assumptions. It also allows the proximal parameter to vary freely between arbitrary positive bounds, an unusual feature in an ADMM-like method.


An improved nonlinear speed control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor(PMSM) is presented. A quasi-linearized and decoupled model including the influence of parameter variations and speed measurement error on the nonlinear speed control of a PMSM is derived. Using this model, to overcome the drawbacks of conventional nonlinear control scheme, the improved nonlinear control scheme that employs time delay control(TDC) is proposed. To show the validity of the proposed control scheme, simulation studies are carried out and compared with the conventional control scheme.