Covalent aggregates of insulin in blood of insulin-treated diabetic patients account for as much as 70% (mean 28 ± 3.6%) of serum insulin immunoreactivity. These aggregates may originate in therapeutic insulin, because similar substances account for 0.1–3% of these preparations. Larger amounts in blood imply that aggregates accumulate as a result of delayed clearance. To test and quantify this speculation, we calculated the plasma kinetics of this material in four normal volunteers who received large intravenous doses (30 mU · kg−1 · min−1) of beef-pork crystalline zinc insulin for 120 min. Insulin aggregate and monomer concentrations were measured in blood samples obtained at regular intervals throughout the infusion and during 4 h after discontinuation of insulin. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the data. Insulin aggregate and monomer serum t½ were 63.6 ± 6.9 and 34.3 ± 2.8 min, respectively, and clearances were 101 ± 10 and 232 ± 47 ml/min. Volume of distribution (Vβ) and volume at steady state (Vss) were 9.1 ± 1.8 and 8.2 ± 2.2 L for insulin aggregate and 11.6 ± 2.8 and 12.2 ± 3.6 L for insulin monomer, respectively. Mean residency time was 141 ± 14 and 114 ± 10 min for insulin aggregate and monomer, respectively [P < .01 for all parameters except Vβ (.014) and Vss (.012), aggregate vs. monomer]. Thus, in relation to insulin monomer, calculated pharmacokinetic parameters of the aggregate predict accumulation after insulin injection. Plasma t½ of the aggregate was almost double that of monomeric insulin; total-body clearance and the corresponding volumes of distribution were smaller.


Objectives: The purpose of this study is defining the reference range of fetal renal volume by three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) using the VOCAL (Virtual Organ Computer-aided Analysis) technique. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was performed in 54 singleton pregnancies between 24 to 34 weeks gestation. The volume of both kidneys was obtained separately using the VOCAL method with a 30◦ rotation using Sonoace 8000 Live (Medison, Seoul, Korea). The mean, maximal and minimal volumes were determined for each kidney. Polynomial regression models were used to determine the correlation between gestational age and fetal renal volume, and adjusts were done with the coefficient of determination (R2). The Wilcoxon test verified the differences between the volume of right and left kidneys. Results: The right kidney mean volume grew from 4.48 cm3 (2.23–6.74 cm3) at 24a weeks to 12.07 cm3 (9.15–14.99 cm3) at 34a weeks. The left kidney mean volume grew from 4.66 cm3 (3.03–6.28 cm3) at 24a weeks to 10.61 cm3 (7.93–13.31 cm3) at 34a weeks. A strong correlation was found between the gestational age and kidney volume (R2 = 0.98 for right kidney and R2 = 0.96 for left kidney) In addition, there were no differences between the volumes of bilateral kidneys (P > 0.08). Conclusion: The reference range of fetal renal volume by threedimensional ultrasound using the VOCAL method was determined


Simulated syngas produced from biomass gasification was evaluated in a compression ignition (CI) engine under a dual fueling mode. Syngas is an economical solution with a carbon-neutral system that could replace petroleum diesel fuel. Syngas can be introduced into CI engines through a dual fueling process. However, syngas dual fueling combustion is very complicated because it consists of several combustion phases. In addition, CI engines operating under the syngas dual fueling mode suffer from low performance. Therefore, this study examined the performance of syngas dual fueling in a CI engine with blended biodiesel as pilot fuel. Two types of simulated syngas, namely typical syngas and high hydrogen syngas, were considered. The simulated high hydrogen syngas was assumed to be the product of biomass gasification with introduction of a carbon dioxide adsorption. The effect of carbon dioxide removal from syngas on the performance of syngas dual fueling in a CI engine at constant engine speed, half load, and different pilot fuel substitution rates was investigated. The combustion characteristics showed a maximum pilot fuel substitution of up to 47% with simulated syngas. Better engine performance was achieved with the simulated typical syngas in terms of brake specific energy consumption and brake thermal efficiency.


Background: There have been several studies investigating the effects of housing characteristics on human health and biomarkers but how buildings could have become sick buildings was unknown. Therefore, we aimed to use a housing condition survey in a region-wide and building-based setting as an example to assess the architectural engineering correlates that could be related to "sick buildings" by adopting the epidemiological method commonly used in etiology and disease management research.
Methods: Data were analyzed in Northern Ireland House Condition Survey, 2009 (n=3,000). We hypothesized that the pathway is going from housing built year, on to indoor built environment fitness outcomes and The Decent Homes Standard, and then to long standing illnesses of the occupants. Statistical analysis included chi-square test and general or multi-level logistic regression modelling.
Results: Apparently, when the age of buildings went higher, the likelihood of having unacceptable indoor built environment fitness outcomes also increased, regardless of any fitness outcome. Similarly, the odds of having poor The Decent Homes Standard were higher for buildings that were built long time ago than those built in recent years. The greatest odds were seen among buildings that were built pre 1919.
Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating potential architectural engineering correlates for sick buildings by adopting an epidemiological method more than the usual surveying engineering method. Future research moving from etiology aspect to sick building management in a well-established surveillance for proper maintenance would be suggested in order to ensure the housing equality for all occupants/residents.


In research on pedagogy, since a few decades the significant impacts of corporal, spatial and material aspects of behaviour on pedagogical situations, especially their effects on teaching and learning, come more and more into sight (e.g. Abele ,1996; Naujok, 2004 etc.). Due to the approach of Pedagogical Anthropology (cp. Wulf, 1994), practical pedagogy is then regarded not only as ruled by planning, explicit normative framings and governmental strategies. Its topics, as e.g. the success or the failing of teaching or learning processes or a precarious or promising personality- development, are moreover seen as also decisively influenced by unspoken, silent, corporal, spatial, material, barred or alienated factors. In this contribution gender is used as an analytical category in order to work out such a tacit dimension of pedagogy. In this regard, three sets of arguments - referring to implicit or tacit knowing, to performativity and mimesis and to corporeality and bodiliness - will be unfolded.


Recent findings of outcrops of the so-called "Explora Wedge" and overlying younger sediments below the Ekstrom Ice Shelf initiated discussion about discovering this area in more detail.
The Ekstrom Ice Shelf is a characteristic ice shelf and one out of numerous small to medium scale ice shelves around East Antarctica. It is bordered by ice rises and ridges, has only a small catchment area and a slow flowing central ice stream. Nevertheless, this region is of critical importance to water-mass preconditioning in the Weddell Sea, and like other ice shelves in that area particularly susceptible to future environmental changes. We have learned about sub-ice-shelf melting and freezing processes as well as the formation of supercool water and ice platelets mostly through modelling. Observations from land-fast sea ice are still very rare. Ikaite and related inorganic carbonate precipitation, processes probably observed in the ANDRILL sediment cores, may be associated with freezing processes and brine formation in this type of environment. Hardly any measurements
exist regarding oceanographic and glaciological seasonal cycles and associated processes below an ice shelf, close to its calving, or at the grounding zones. Observations and detailed spatial mapping of seafloor morphology and composition are difficult and can only be done with the aid of AUVs or ROVs diving below the ice shelf. "Deep SCINI", a ROV that can be lowered through an ice hole, discovered a school of fish hidden under 740 m of ice and 850 km away from the coast and light, living at the grounding zone of the Ross Ice Shelf (WISSARD project). It also discovered a community of sea anemones (Edwardsiella andrillae), a new species, which lives in high densities upside down on the underside of the ice shelf and is part of an unknown system of biogeochemical processes. These are two more examples for living at the edge on Planet Earth.
Evidence of these biological, oceanographic and glaciological processes could have been archived in sedimentary deposits. With detailed seafloor mapping and high-resolution reflection seismic we hope to find postglacial and Holocene sediments. A sequence of more than 1000 m thick sediments has been detected lying on top of the "Explora Wedge" in an area between the ice shelf calving line and about 40 km inland below the Ekstrom Ice Shelf. Up to now, its age is relatively unknown but could range from Cretaceous to Pleistocene. Therefore, this area would be predestined for exploring East Antarctica\'s development from a greenhouse environment after the Gondwana breakup to a Cenozoic icehouse environment, thus enabling us to possibly reconstruct the history and variability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. We will present various sites for drill holes and would like to raise awareness and interest within the community of polar researchers. Due to the proximity to the Neumayer III Station, the logistics of possible future investigations will be easier and will have less of an environmental impact than if started elsewhere in Antarctica.


The aim of this study is to test what drives the way in which companies disclose materiality in their Integrated Reports (IRs). Materiality is one of the main themes (and challenges) in the IR discourse, and it will probably play a central role in the actual success of the International Integrated Reporting Council framework. Companies managing to actually implement the materiality principle, will produce IRs which are concise and able to provide relevant information on the future performance of the company. Otherwise, IR will probably fail to meet the high expectations several stakeholders have toward it. Our results shows that materiality disclosure is not company-specific but it is rather industry-induced, thus providing support of the stream of literature indicating industry as the main driver of company voluntary disclosure.


This paper investigates the Gallium Nitride (GaN) devices benefits on the LLC resonant DC-DC converter. First, the relationship between the device parameters and converter current based on an analytical loss model of LLC resonant converter has been established. After that, the loss analysis and comparison between Si-based and GaN-based converter is presented. The GaN-based design demonstrates about 40% loss reduction compared with the Si-based design. An insight on the extra winding loss due to the asymmetrical primary side and secondary side current is presented. The extra winding loss is reduced by 18% with GaN device application. The overall loss breakdown and the experimental result show the 20% overall loss reduction of the GaN-based LLC converter compared with the Si-based LLC converter.


The role of non-H-2 alloantigens, specifically Mls locus products, in secondary in vitro T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity has been studied. Splenic T lymphocytes, activated against Mls locus alloantigens in primary-mixed cultures and isolated by velocity sedimentation gradient separation techniques, were used as responding populations in secondary mixed leukocyte cultures (MLCs) and cell-mediated lympholysis (CML). Such T-cell clones could be shown to exhibit either "self"-H-2- restricted or anti-Mls locus-specific reactivity, with this dichotomy of reactivity depending only on the primary culture conditions. Mls locus-activated T lymphocytes generated in cultures supplemented with homologous serum exhibited specific memory responses in MLC, yet remained incapable of effecting target cell destruction against Mls locus antigens or against "self"-H-2-structures in CML. In contrast, activated T-cell clones generated in the presence of heterologous serum displayed H-2-restricted reactivity in both secondary MLC and CML. H-2- restricted MLC activation was controlled by products of the H-2 serologically defined regions. Although heterologous serum was a necessary (and sufficient) entity for development of H-2-restricted responses, evidence argues against the possibility that heterologous serum acts via modification of cell surface components.


Thiacalix[4]arenes have emerged as a family of macrocyclic ligands to protect metal nanoparticles, but it remains a great challenge to solve the mystery of their structures at the atomic level, especially for those larger than 2 nm. Here, we report the largest known mixed-valence silver nanocluster [Ag155(CyS)40(TC4A)5Cl2] (Ag155) protected by deprotonated cyclohexanethiol (CySH) and macrocyclic ligand p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (H4TC4A). Its single crystal structure consists of a metallic core of four concentric shells, Ag13@Ag42@Ag30@Ag70, lined with a protective organic skin of 40 CyS- and 5 TC4A4- and 2 Cl-. Ag155 manifests an unusual pseudo-5-fold symmetry dictated by the intrinsic metal atom packing and the regioselective distribution of mixed protective ligands. This work not only reveals a macrocyclic ligand effect on the formation of a large silver nanocluster but also provides a new structural archetype for comprehensively perceiving their interface and metal kernel structures.


AbstractExtreme precipitation was identified in the midwestern United States using an object-oriented approach applied to the NCEP stage-II hourly precipitation dataset. This approach groups contiguous areas that exceed a user-defined threshold into "objects," which then allows object attributes to be diagnosed. Those objects with precipitation maxima in the 99th percentile (>55 mm) were considered extreme, and there were 3484 such objects identified in the midwestern United States between 1996 and 2010. Precipitation objects ranged in size from hundreds to over 100 000 km2, and the maximum precipitation within each object varied between 55 and 104 mm. The majority of occurrences of extreme precipitation were in the summer (June, July, and August), and peaked in the afternoon into night (1900–0200 UTC) in the diurnal cycle. Consistent with the previous work by the authors, this study shows that the systems that produce extreme precipitation in the midwestern United States vary widely across the convective...


The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. Repetitive braking of the vehicle leads to heat generation during each braking event. Transient Thermal Analysis of the Rotor Disc of Disk Brake is aimed at evaluating the performance of disc brake rotor of a car under severe braking conditions and there by assist in disc rotor design and analysis. Disc brake model and analysis is done using ANSYS workbench 16.0. The main purpose of this study is to analysis the thermo mechanical behaviour of the dry contact of the brake disc during the braking phase. The coupled thermal-structural analysis is used to determine the thermal stresses and to calculate the Heat fluxes in x-y-z planes. This is established Slotted type and analysis is done by taking two different components such as Cast Iron and Stainless Steel and comparing which material is best suited for making of a disc brake.


We study the optimal reinsurance policy of an insurance company which gives part of its premium stream to another compagny in exchange of an obligation to support the difference between the amount of the claim and some retention level. This contract is known as excess of loss reinsurance. The objective of the insurance compagny is to maximize the expected utility of its reserve at some planning horizon and under a nonnegativity constraint. We suppose that reinsurance incurs a cost proportional to the size of risk run by the reinsurance compagny. We first prove existence and uniqueness results for this optimization problem by using stochastic control methods. In a second part, we solve the associated Bellman equation numerically by using an algorithm based on policy iterations.


Occurred in the offshore of SW Taiwan on 26 December 2006 with a magnitude of 7, the Pingtung earthquake had triggered numbers of submarine landslides. This event provides an excellent opportunity to incorporate the back analysis approach to evaluate the in situ shear strength parameters. According to the chirp sonar images of the seabed near the SW Xiaoliuqiu obtained before and after the earthquake were adopted to establish the slope profile and identified the location of a circular sliding surface. Consequently, the in situ, effective strength parameters under the critical condition can be calculated by back slope stability analysis. Submarine sediment sampler was obtained via gravity sampling method and the laboratory tests were performed to determine the index properties and strength parameters. Test results indicate the cored sediment has the characteristics of normally consolidated (NC) clay. The effective friction angle (φ') is 15.3° with cohesion (c') of 19.4 kPa. The effective and total stress methods were used to perform the back analysis. The strength parameters derived from back analysis of effective and total stress methods all indicate values approach the CIU triaxial tests results. Consequently, the representativeness of the marine sediment characteristics obtained from laboratory tests is identified. The total stress approach yields an undrained strength ratio cu/σ'v0 of 0.26 which well fit the ratio used in geotechnical practice for estimating NC clay. According to the analytical approach, the landslide was applied seismic forces (seismic coefficient kh = 0.14) and generated excess pore pressure of 31 kPa at the sliding surface. Article history: Received 30 September 2016 Revised 30 March 2017


Carbon stocks and soil CO 2 flux were assessed in an Imperata cylindrica grassland of Manipur, Northeast India. Carbon stocks in the vegetative components were estimated to be 11.17 t C/ha and soil organic carbon stocks were 55.94 t C/ha to a depth of 30 cm. The rates of carbon accumulation in above-ground and below-ground biomass were estimated to be 11.85 t C/ha/yr and 11.71 t C/ha/yr, respectively. Annual soil CO 2 flux was evaluated as 6.95 t C/ha and was highly influenced by soil moisture, soil temperature and soil organic carbon as well as by C stocks in above-ground biomass. Our study on the carbon budget of the grassland ecosystem revealed that annually 23.56 t C/ha was captured by the vegetation through photosynthesis, and 6.95 t C/ha was returned to the atmosphere through roots and microbial respiration, with a net balance of 16.61 t C/ha/yr being retained in the grassland ecosystem. Thus the present Imperata grassland exhibited a high capacity to remove atmospheric CO 2 and to induce high C stocks in the soil provided it is protected from burning and overgrazing. Keywords: Above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, carbon stocks, carbon storage, net primary productivity, soil CO 2 flux. DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(4)19-28


The purpose of this study was to trace the contributions of the iron and steel industry in Japan to Japanese economic development. This study is divided into four main parts. The first gives the general characteristics of the nation's economic development and the importance of the iron and steel industry to the Japanese economy. The second is a study of manufacturing and distribution of steel imports, exports and domestic marketing. The third is devoted to the reasons of the rapid growth of the steel industry in Japan: government's participation with the steel industry, abundant labor force, steel price, heavy equipment investment to the steel industry and technique induction and research investment. The fourth deals with the problems of the steel industry: over-production, low earning power of the steel makers and the moves in the United States to restrict imports of steel products. The writer believes that when the above problems are solved, the Japanese iron and steel industry will be able to rise to highest world levels in quality and quantity and thereby contribute to continued development of the Japanese economy.


Gridded precipitation data are very important for hydrological and meteorological studies. However, gridded precipitation can exhibit significant statistical bias that needs to be corrected before application, especially in regions where high wind speeds, frequent snowfall, and sparse observation networks can induce significant uncertainties in the final gridded datasets. In this paper, we present a method for the production of gridded precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). This method reduces the statistical distribution error by correcting for wind-induced undercatch and optimizing the interpolation method. A gridded precipitation product constructed by this method was compared with previous products on the TP. The results show that undercatch correction is necessary for station data, which can reduce the distributional error by 30% at most. A thin-plate splines interpolation algorithm considering altitude as a covariate is helpful to reduce the statistical distributional error in general. Our method effectively inhibits the smoothing effect in gridded precipitation, and compared to previous products, results in a higher mean value, larger 98th percentile, and greater temporal variance. This study can help to improve the quality of gridded precipitation over the TP.


A high rock embankment by means of phased dynamic compaction has hardly carried out in Korea. Settlement of each layer is measured in order to verify the settlement behavior of dynamically compacted high rock embankment. A high rock embankment is generally constructed by dividing into several sub-embankments. Such a sub-embankment and dynamic compaction may induce an increase of pressure at the lower part of embankment and cause a different behavior of ground from initial status. In this study, settlement of a high rock embankment is estimated using a hyperbolic model taking into construction history. The results from prediction are compared with those obtained from field measurements. And second creep settlement is predicted using preloading test.


This study provides one of the first detailed analyses of the impact of Fair Trade (FT) banana certification at the household level. With a careful selection of treatment and control farmers (through their associations) and the use of a propensity score matching technique, we were able to construct an appropriate counterfactual for the situation of FT farmers prior to their involvement in this supply chain. Due to the fact that all sales of banana FT in the Chira Valley also have an organic certification, and to be able to distinguish the effects of FT involvement from the effects of participating in the organic market, we compared the outcomes of organic farmers which belong to a FT association with the outcomes of two different types of farmers: (a) organic farmers which belong to an association recently FT certified, and (b) conventional farmers in the same area which do not belong to any association. Our results provide clear evidence of an impact of FT involvement on income and overall welfare indicators for banana farmers in the Chira Valley. These improvements are not only achieved via the better price obtained for FT sales but also because of higher productivity levels obtained as a results of the FT premium investment.


This study was done to evaluate and to compare the efficacy of jet nebulizer and metered dose inhaler (MDI) with home-made non-valved spacer (HM NVS) to deliver aerosolized salbutamol in acute exacerbation of asthma in children. HM NVS was made by 500ml plastic mineral water bottle. It was perforated at the bottom for the insertion of MDI and proximal end was cut for placing the mouth. This prospective randomized study was conducted in the department of Pediatrics, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, during April 2007 to March 2008 with 50 known cases (2-12 years) of bronchial asthma with acute exacerbation. After randomized enrollment, each patient received three doses of salbutamol either through a jet nebulizer or through a HM NVS. Oxygen saturation (SaO2), wheeze, heart rate, respiratory rate were recorded throughout the treatment period. Data were analyzed with SPSS for Windows 10.0 at p value <0.05 was considered significant. The mean age of patients was 59.8 months in nebulizer group versus 69.4 months in MDI with HM NVS group. Baseline clinical characteristics in nebulizer group were SaO2 87.7±2.5 versus 89.0±1.8 percent, RR 59.2±7.3 vs. 63.2±4.8 per minute, HR 155.4±11.8 versus 149.0±10.8 per minute and wheeze in 22(88.0%) cases versus 21(84.0%) cases respectively (p>0.05). After therapy improvement was noted among the nebulizer group (SaO2 87.7±2.5 vs. 94.3±2.8 percent; RR 59.2±7.3 vs. 39.3±4.9 per minute; HR 155.4±11.8 vs. 151.60±17.3 per minute; wheeze 88% vs. 8%) as well as in the MDI with HM NVS group (SaO2 89.0±1.8 vs. 94.8±1.8 percent; RR 63.2±4.8 vs. 38.7±6.4 per minute; HR 149.0±10.8 vs. 144.5±13.5 per minute; wheeze 84% vs. 16%) [p<0.001; CI:95%]. However, these improvements did not differ significantly between the nebulizer group and HM NVS group (SaO2 94.3±2.8 vs. 94.8±1.8 percent, RR 39.3±4.9 vs. 38.7±6.4 per minute, HR 151.60±17.3 vs. 144.5±13.5 per minute and wheeze persisted in 2(8.0%) cases versus 4(16.0%) cases respectively) [p>0.05]. The overall response to these modalities of treatment was satisfactory in nebulizer (19/25) and HM NVS (17/25). Salbutamol delivered through both nebulizer as well as MDI with HM NVS is equally effective in the treatment of acute asthma in children.


(-)-Baclophen was found to depress in a dose-dependent and reversible way the excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPS) of motor neurons and the ventral root potentials evoked by stimulation of fibres of the ipsi- and contralateral ventral columns. The (-)-baclophen depressing effect could be eliminated with saclophen. Picrotoxin eliminated the depressing effect of the GABA on the descending EPSPS. Depressing effects of (-)-baclophen and GABA upon the ventral root potentials were also shown. The data obtained in pharmacological analysis corroborate to a certain extent existence of the GABAB receptor presynaptic inhibition in descending fibres monosynaptically corrected with the spinal cord motor neurons in the frog Rana ridibunda.


Theories of activated transitions traditionally separate the dynamics and statistics of the thermal bath in the reaction rate into the preexponential frequency factor for the dynamics and a Boltzmann factor for the statistics. When the reaction rate is comparable to relaxation frequencies of the medium, the statistics loses ergodicity and the activation barrier becomes dependent on the medium dynamics. This scenario is realized for mixed-valence self-exchange electron transfer at temperatures near the point of solvent crystallization. These complexes, studied by Kubiak and coworkers, display anti-Arrhenius temperature dependence on lowering temperature when approaching crystallization; that is, the reaction rate increases nonlinearly in Arrhenius coordinates. Accordingly, the solvent relaxation slows down following a power temperature law. With this functional form for the relaxation time, nonergodic reaction kinetics accounts well for the observations.


A series of novel block copolymers, processable from single organic solvents and subsequently rendered amphiphilic by thermolysis, have been synthesized using Grignard metathesis (GRIM) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations and azide-alkyne click chemistry. This chemistry is simple and allows the fabrication of well-defined block copolymers with controllable block lengths. The block copolymers, designed for use as interfacial adhesive layers in organic photovoltaics to enhance contact between the photoactive and hole transport layers, comprise printable poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(neopentyl p-styrenesulfonate), P3HT-b-PNSS. Subsequently, they are converted to P3HT-b-poly(p-styrenesulfonate), P3HT-b-PSS, following deposition and thermal treatment at 150 °C. Grazing incidence small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS/GIWAXS) revealed that thin films of the amphiphilic block copolymers comprise lamellar nanodomains of P3HT crystallites that can be pushed further apart by increasing the PSS block lengths. The approach of using a thermally modifiable block allows deposition of this copolymer from a single organic solvent and subsequent conversion to an amphiphilic layer by nonchemical means, particularly attractive to large scale roll-to-roll industrial printing processes.


This thesis explores how Muslim youths' lifeworlds are depicted and narrated in the following two studies on Muslim youth in Sweden and Denmark: Muslima (2007) and Samtidsislam (2010). The aim of this thesis is to answer the following question: In what ways do these works treat the aspects of the lifeworlds that are being highlighted in their studies of Muslim youth in contemporary Sweden and Denmark? An underlying aim is to analyse the results within the framework of theories of socialisation, cultural emancipation and rituals and traditions.With a hermeneutic approach I analyse the texts and operationalize the research question into four themes: the effects of socialization, cultural emancipation, rituals and traditions and secularization. The texts are treated in the analysis with textual analysis and hermeneutic method. The theoretical frame assumes socialization theory, the theory of cultural emancipation, a theoretical statement about traditions and rituals. Pia Karlsson Mingantis's study Muslima (2007) focuses on nine young women, who are engaged in the Islamic revival. The description of the young women's life situation is quite complex and the encounter with the Swedish context induces negotiations between Islamic traditions and the secular culture in the majority society.In Jonas Otterbeck & Peter Hallin's study Samtidsislam (2010) nine Muslim youths' situations are described. The informants view themselves as Muslims, but do not exercise Islam with quite much engagement. There are a lot of conflicts between the Islamic tradition and the Danish and Swedish majority culture. The youth are being in a uncertain position in the search of an identity. The conflicts and religious questions that are raised in the encounter with the Swedish and Danish context is not interpreted differently by the informants than other questions connected to youths' identity construction and other questions related to the transition into adulthood.The conclusion that is being made in relation to the study of the texts is that the narratives produced by both the authors are different. The differences in the narratives depend on different samples and different aims of the two studies.


The standard experimental paradigm in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences is extremely limited. Although recent advances in digital technologies and crowdsourcing services allow individual experiments to be deployed and run faster than in traditional physical labs, a majority of experiments still focus on one-off results that do not generalize easily to real-world contexts or even to other variations of the same experiment. As a result, there exist few universally acknowledged findings, and even those are occasionally overturned by new data. We argue that to achieve replicable, generalizable, scalable and ultimately useful social and behavioral science, a fundamental rethinking of the model of virtual-laboratory style experiments is required. Not only is it possible to design and run experiments that are radically different in scale and scope than was possible in an era of physical labs; this ability allows us to ask fundamentally different types of questions than have been asked historically of lab studies. We posit, however, that taking full advantage of this new and exciting potential will require four major changes to the infrastructure, methodology, and culture of experimental science: (1) significant investments in software design and participant recruitment, (2) innovations in experimental design and analysis of experimental data, (3) adoption of new models of collaboration, and (4) a new understanding of the nature and role of theory in experimental social and behavioral science. We conclude that the path we outline, although ambitious, is well within the power of current technology and has the potential to facilitate a new class of scientific advances in social, behavioral and economic studies.This paper emerged from discussions at a workshop held by the Computational Social Science Lab at the University of Pennsylvania in January 2020. The work was supported by James and Jane Manzi Analytics Fund and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.


A new tungsten heavy alloy with hybrid structure was manufactured for the kinetic energy penetrator. The tungsten heavy alloy is composed of two parts: core region is molybdenum added heavy alloy to promote the self-sharpening; outer part encompassing the core is conventional heavy alloy to sustain severe load in a muzzle during firing. The fracture surfaces of the specimen is observed after ballistic tests. The core region revealed brittle behavior with W/W inter-granular fracture which activates self-sharpening. On the other hand, outer part exhibited conventional ductile fracture mode. From ballistic test, it was found that the penetration performance of the hybrid structure tungsten heavy alloy is higher than that of conventional heavy alloy. This heavy alloy is thought to be very useful for the penetrator in the near future.


The human exosome is a multi-protein complex present in all eukaryotic cells, which is involved in the processing and degradation of a large variety of RNA molecules. In patients suffering from an overlap syndrome of the autoimmune diseases polymyositis (PM) and scleroderma (Scl), autoantibodies are found that are reactive with protein subunits of this complex. These antibodies are referred to as anti-PM/Scl antibodies. The goal of this study was to characterize in more detail the composition and structure of the human exosome and to gain more insight in the reason why this complex is targeted by auto-antibodies in patients with the PM/Scl overlap syndrome. In order to analyze the structure of the exosome complex, a systematic analysis of interactions between human exosome subunits was performed. Together with the identification of an interesting homology between the exosome and the bacterial protein polyribonucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), this allowed the construction of a model for the exosome complex, the main feature of which is its ring-shaped structure. In addition, a human homologue of the bacterial PNPase protein is described, which localizes specifically in the mitochondria. The evolutionary relationships between the exosome complex and both prokaryotic and eukaryotic PNPases are discussed. Finally, one of the exosome subunits, PM/Scl-75, is shown to be a significantly longer protein than was believed until recently. This protein was found to be a substrate for caspase-mediated cleavage in apoptotic cells, suggesting a role for the protein in the generation of patient autoantibodies that recognize the exosome complex. In addition, it is shown that the autoantibodies from patients with the PM/Scl overlap syndrome are mainly targeted to this longer form of the PM/Scl-75 protein, whereas until now another exosome subunit, PM/Scl-100, was believed to be the main autoantigen of the complex.


The present paper deals with exploring the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for forecasting the Blue Nile river flows in Sudan. Four ANN rainfall–runoff models based on the structure of the well-known multi-layer perceptron are developed. These models use the rainfall index as a common external input, with the rainfall index being a weighted sum of the recent and current rainfall. These models differ in terms of the additional external inputs being used by the model. The additional inputs are basically the seasonal expectations of both the rainfall index and the observed discharge. The results show that the model, which uses both the seasonal expectation of the observed discharge and the rainfall index as additional inputs, has the best performance. The estimated discharges of this model are further updated using a non-linear Auto-Regressive Exogenous-input model (NARXM)-ANN river flow forecasting output-updating procedure. In this way, a real-time river flow forecasting model is developed. The results show that the forecast updating has significantly enhanced the quality of the discharge forecasts. The results also indicate that the ANN has considerable potential to be used for river flow forecasting in developing countries.


The disorders of oxidative homeostasis with accumulation of lipid peroxidation products upon depletion of functional capacity of antioxidant defense in thymus lymphocytes after irradiation in doses of 1.0 and 7.78 Gy were shown. The riboxine injection leads to normalization of balance in prooxidant-antioxidant system (with a decrease of formation of lipid peroxidation and activation of antioxidant enzyme system) in early terms after X-ray exposure.


We introduce a Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) stellar census of R136a, the central ionizing star cluster of 30 Doradus. We present low resolution far-ultraviolet STIS spectroscopy of R136 using 17 contiguous 52 arcsec x 0.2 arcsec slits which together provide complete coverage of the central 0.85 parsec (3.4 arcsec). We provide spectral types of 90 per cent of the 57 sources brighter than m(F555W) = 16.0 mag within a radius of 0.5 parsec of R136a1, plus 8 additional nearby sources including R136b (O4 If/WN8). We measure wind velocities for 52 early-type stars from C IV lambda lambda 1548-51, including 16 O2-3 stars. For the first time, we spectroscopically classify all Weigelt and Baier members of R136a, which comprise three WN5 stars (a1-a3), two O supergiants (a5-a6) and three early O dwarfs (a4, a7, a8). A complete Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for the most massive O stars in R136 is provided, from which we obtain a cluster age of 1.5(-0.7)(+0.3) Myr. In addition, we discuss the integrated ultraviolet spectrum of R136, and highlight the central role played by the most luminous stars in producing the prominent He II lambda 1640 emission line. This emission is totally dominated by very massive stars with initial masses above similar to 100M(circle dot). The presence of strong He II lambda 1640 emission in the integrated light of very young star clusters (e.g. A1 in NGC 3125) favours an initial mass function extending well beyond a conventional upper limit of 100M(circle dot). We include montages of ultraviolet spectroscopy for Large Magellanic Cloud O stars in the appendix. Future studies in this series will focus on optical STIS medium resolution observations.


This study focuses on the optimizing the microstructure to improve the efficiency for healing interfacial debonding in fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). Healing is accomplished by incorporating a microcapsulated healing agent and catalytic chemical trigger within a coating layer on the surface of the fiber strands. Self-healing is demonstrated on flat tensile specimens of unidirectional FRPs. The effects of microcapsule diameter and concentration, and number of filaments in the fiber strand on tensile strength of virgin and healed specimens are discussed. Microstructure of the fracture surfaces of specimens was also examined by a scanning electron microscope. Additionally, finite element analyses were performed to predict the microcapsule-matrix debonding process during uniaxial tensile loading.


By the method of modern physical material science (optic microscopy scanning and transmission electron microscopy) the analysis of structural phase states, the morphology of the second phase inclusions and defect substructure of Al-Si alloy (silumin) of hypoeutectic composition, subjected to electron beam processing was done with the following parameters: energy density 25-35 J/cm, beam length 150 μs, pulse number – 3, pulse repetition rate – 0.3 Hz, pressure of residual gas (argon) 0.02 Pa. The surface irradiation results in the melting of the surface layer, the dissolution of boundary inclusions, the stricture formation of high speed cellular crystallization of submicron sizes, the repeated precipitation of the second phase nanodimentional particles. With the increased distance from the irradiation surface the layer containing the second phase inclusions of quasi-equilibrium shape along with the crystallization cells was revealed. It is indicative of the processes of Al-Si alloy structure globalization on electron beam processing.


Objective Hypertension and hypoalbuminemia are common risk factors for cardiovascular complications in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Data are limited regarding the effects of whey protein consumption on blood pressure in this population. The aim of the present study was to examine if whey protein supplementation for 12 weeks to hypoalbuminemic PD patients affects their blood pressure. Patients and methods This prospective randomized study included 36 stable PD patients with serum albumin levels <3.8 g/dL. During 12 weeks, 18 patients were instructed to consume 1.2 g/kg/day of protein and an additional whey protein supplement at a dose of 25% of the instructed daily protein (whey protein group). Eighteen patients were instructed to consume protein in the amount of 1.2 g/kg/day and an additional 25%, without whey protein supplementation (control group). Results Compared to the control group, in the whey protein group, serum albumin levels, oncotic pressure, and dialysate ultrafiltration significantly increased (3.55±0.14 to 4.08±0.15 g/dL, P<0.001; 21.81±2.03 to 24.06±1.54 mmHg, P<0.001; 927.8±120.3 to 1,125.0±125.1 mL/day, P<0.001; respectively) and were significantly higher after 12 weeks (4.08±0.15 vs 3.41±0.49 g/dL, P<0.001; 24.06±1.54 vs 22.71±1.77 mmHg, P=0.010; 1,125.0±125.1 vs 930.6±352.8 mL/day, P=0.017; respectively) in the whey protein group compared to the control group. Fluid overload, the extracellular to intracellular ratio and mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly decreased (2.46±1.08 to 1.52±0.33, P<0.001; 1.080±0.142 to 0.954±0.124, P<0.001; 102.6±3.80 to 99.83±3.85, P=0.018; respectively) and were significantly lower in the whey protein group after 12 weeks (1.52±0.33 vs 2.23±0.73, P<0.001, 0.954±0.124 vs 1.048±0.111, P=0.002; 99.83±3.85 vs 102.8±3.93, P=0.018; respectively). Conclusion Whey protein supplementation for 12 weeks decreased MAP in hypoalbuminemic PD patients.


We study the influence of the band structure on the symmetry and superconducting transition temperature in the (solvable) weak-coupling limit of the repulsive Hubbard model. Among other results we find that (1) as a function of increasing nematicity, starting from the square-lattice (zero nematicity) limit where a nodal d-wave state is strongly preferred, there is a smooth evolution to the quasi-1D limit, where a striking near-degeneracy is found between a p-wave- and a d-wave-type paired states with accidental nodes on the quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surfaces-a situation that may be relevant to the Bechgaard salts. (2) In a bilayer system, we find a phase transition as a function of increasing bilayer coupling from a d-wave to an s(+/-)-wave state reminiscent of the iron-based superconductors. (3) When an antinodal gap is produced by charge-density-wave order, not only is the pairing scale reduced, but the symmetry of the pairs switches from d(x2-y2) to d(xy); in the context of the cuprates, this suggests that were the pseudogap entirely due to a competing CDW order, this would likely cause a corresponding symmetry change of the superconducting order (which is not seen in experiment).


We present the first continuous observations of the temporal evolution of oceanic crustal shear velocity beneath Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano on the Juan de Fuca Ridge (offshore northwestern North America). Weekly values of seafloor compliance, the periodic deformation of the seafloor under ocean waves, were estimated over the time period between December 2014 and May 2018 using data from two cabled broadband ocean-bottom seismometers with collocated absolute pressure sensors. We inverted these measurements for shear-wave velocity within the volcano beneath the two stations as a function of depth and time. Our results, combined with estimates of seismic compressional wave velocity, suggest that the shallow melt reservoir and the lower crust beneath the central caldera contain melt fractions of 14% and at least 4%, respectively. The eruption of April 2015 induced a dramatic drop in shear velocities beneath the central station, primarily in the lower crust, which could have been caused by an increase in melt fraction, a change in small-scale melt geometry, or both. The absence of such a change beneath the eastern flank of the caldera indicates that there is a lower-crustal conduit beneath the caldera center, which is much narrower in cross section (<1 km2) than the overlying melt reservoir (≥42 km2). Our study demonstrates the promise of using continuous data to understand submarine volcanism and crustal accretionary processes.


We study how investor's persistent preference to invest more in the home market — "home bias" — is affecting investor's efforts to mitigate risks associated with climate change. When investors have a tendency to tilt their portfolio towards domestic assets, the carbon intensity in the home market may well affect the carbon exposures of their portfolios and hence climate risk. This paper analyzes the carbon exposure and home bias of stock portfolios across a wide range of different investors from the euro area using a unique stock-level holdings data. We find that at the stock-level, carbon-intensive firms have higher ownership when the stocks are from the EU-home market. At the portfolio level, higher carbon footprints of euro area investors are related to home bias. The bias to invest more in carbon-intensive firms from the domestic and EU-home market is associated with higher stocks returns.


Typically, diagnosis of enteric fever due to Salmonella spp. is by bacterial isolation from blood culture; however, the blood culture method is slow, not always available, and not informative in patients with antibiotic treatment. Salmonella spp. uses the hilA gene (component of the pathogenicity island I) to invade epithelial cells and produce infection. Using the hilA gene sequence a PCR test was designed to detect Salmonella in blood samples. The sensitivity (S), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PCR method were obtained by testing the blood samples from 34 patients with suspected of enteric fever. Presence of S. typhi was confirmed by blood culture. Blood samples were also tested from 35 patients with infections due to other non-Salmonella pathogens, again corroborated by blood culture (Klebsiella pneumoniae, 9; Serratia marcescens, 5; Escherichia coli, 4; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 9; Providencia alcalifaciens, 4; Enterobacter cloacae, 4). Control samples were obtained from 150 healthy volunteers. The S, SP, PPV and NPV for the PCR method were all 100%. The lowest number of colony forming units/ml detected by PCR in blood samples was 10.


Introduction Recanalization of tandem vascular occlusions involving the cervical carotid artery and an ipsilateral intracranial large vessel is a difficult treatment challenge. These lesions have been historically observed to be refractory to most conservative medical therapies. New endovascular options have been rapidly emerging over the last few years resulting in potentially higher revascularization rates. Recanalization of tandem lesions with different devices may be possible by opening the distal occlusion first, followed by treatment of the proximal lesion, or vice versa. However, safety and efficacy of these treatment modalities have not been well established. We report our early experience of a combined endovascular approach for the treatment of tandem occlusions in acute stroke patients using the Penumbra thrombectomy device. Methods We included 20 patients from two high volume centers in this retrospective analysis. The patients presented with acute ischemic stroke symptoms within 8 h of symptoms onset. All patients were found to have occlusion of the middle cerebral artery and/or carotid terminus with associated occlusion or critical stenosis/functional occlusion of the ipsilateral cervical carotid segment. Intracranial hemorrhage was ruled out in all cases before the procedure. The patients underwent combined endovascular treatment with extracranial angioplasty/stenting and intracranial mechanical thrombectomy with the Penumbra device. Demographics, catheter selection, pre- and post-procedural neurologic status, recanalization rates and outcomes were recorded and compared to previously reported data. Results 12 male (63.2%) and 8 female patients (42.8%) were included (mean age 65.7±13.1 years). Carotid dissection was reported to be responsible for the proximal vascular lesion in three patients (15%). Extracranial stenting was performed in 17 (85%) cases; in the remaining three patients stenting was technically not feasible. Different caliber catheters were utilized to treat the intracranial lesion: Penumbra 054 in 11 cases, 032 in 9, 041 in 8, and 026 in 2. Multiple Penumbra catheters were used in 10 patients (50%). Successful recanalization was achieved in 17 cases (85%). Mean NIHSS preprocedure was 17.6±6.7 in recanalized and 17.7±9.5 in nonrecanalized group; postprocedure NIHSS was 11.8±12.4 in recanalized and 21.0±6.0 in nonrecanalized (p=0.12;NS). Follow-up outcome at 30 days was available for 11/20 patients (55%): 8 recanalized and all 3 nonrecanalized patients. Favorable outcome (mRS≤2) was observed in 4/8 recanalized patients (50%) and none (0%) in the non-recanalized group. Two patients (10%) died; both in the non-recanalized group. One symptomatic (5%) and three asymptomatic (15%) ICHs were reported. Conclusion The combined use of extracranial angioplasty/stenting and intracranial mechanical thrombectomy with the Penumbra device appears technically feasible and relatively safe with high recanalization rates. Our results are consistent with previous reports showing that recanalization is associated with better outcomes. These results are comparable and in line with prior neurointerventional trials and case series of tandem occlusions, but larger studies are warranted.


This work presents the development and construction of an adaptive street lighting system that improves safety at intersections, which is the result of applying low-power Internet of Things (IoT) techniques to intelligent transportation systems. A set of wireless sensor nodes using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 standard with additional internet protocol (IP) connectivity measures both ambient conditions and vehicle transit. These measurements are sent to a coordinator node that collects and passes them to a local controller, which then makes decisions leading to the streetlight being turned on and its illumination level controlled. Streetlights are autonomous, powered by photovoltaic energy, and wirelessly connected, achieving a high degree of energy efficiency. Relevant data are also sent to the highway conservation center, allowing it to maintain up-to-date information for the system, enabling preventive maintenance.


Introduction: Hepatitis B is contagious liver disease due to infection caused by Hepatitis B virus; it is spread by blood, semen or other body fluids of infected person by inoculation. Hepatitis B virus infection is widespread occurring worldwide with more than one third of the world's population being affected. India is considered to have an intermediate (2-7%) level of hepatitis B virus infection endemicity. Every year, one million Indians are at risk for hepatitis B virus infection and about 100,000 die from it. Aim of the study was to determine prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in patients attending a tertiary care Hospital at Valsad, South Gujarat, India. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in patients attending GMERS hospital, Valsad, South Gujarat during March 2015 to February 2016. Serum samples were collected and screened for HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface Antigen) by ELISA method. Result: Of 11,145 patients tested in this period 298(2.67%) were found to be positive for HBsAg, which includes 180(3.43%) males and 118(1.99%) females, and the most common affected age group was 2130 years. Conclusion: The present study shows the intermediate level of prevalence 298(2.67%) of Hepatitis B infection, in younger age group affecting more males. Combined and coordinated effort of community and health care provider may help to reduce prevalence of this infection.


We describe the first two cases of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis associated with Lancefield group G beta-hemolytic streptococci in the literature. Both patients presented with abdominal pain and turbid dialysis effluent with or without fever. Both had concomitant gastrointestinal tract disturbance. Both did not respond to intraperitoneal cefazolin and tobramycin and required removal of the Tenckhoff catheters.


The recent construction boom has led to new urban development dynamics in Gulf cities driven by real-estate speculations and large infrastructure investments. While in the past affordable housing for medium income migrants and their families was integrated within the fringes of old downtown areas and compound developments in the suburbs, recent investment patterns have led to an increasing challenge of these economically highly engaged social groups to find residences. In recent years, a newly emerging trend in the Gulf region has been the establishment of large scale mass housing projects as new dormitory settlements to address the growing demand for affordable housing. This paper presents an overview of current development patterns by exploring two major affordable housing projects and their impact on sustainability in Doha and Dubai. This is undertaken by establishing a preliminary assessment framework that involves relevant sustainability parameters. The assessment reveals the major differences between both projects and their impact on environment, economy, and society.


Background: Recently, a growing trend of suicide has been seen in children and adolescents in Pakistan, therefore the present research explored psychosocial risk factors of suicidal ideation such as personality, parental and teacher acceptance-rejection, anger impulsivity, depression, interpersonal relations, academic stress and intolerance in adolescents in Pakistan. Methods: Sample included 180 adolescents with equal number of suicide ideators and non ideators who were recruited from public and private schools and colleges in Lahore. The Big Five Personality Inventory, Parental acceptance rejection questionnaire, teacher acceptance and control-teacher acceptance-rejection/ control questionnaire, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents, Frustration Discomfort Scale were used for assessment. Findings: Class marks percentages; father's monthly income, depression, anger impulsivity and worry about grades were significant predictors of suicidal ideation in adolescents. Discussion: the findings highlight the role of counseling and support for adolescents to help vulnerable adolescents cope effectively with stress.


This paper presents a unified perspective for geometric and algebraic criteria for the reachability and controllability of switched linear systems. The direct connection between the geometric and algebraic criterion is established as well as that between the subspace algorithm for controllability/reachability and other algebraic criterion. In particular, we investigate the reachability realization problem for a class of controlled switched linear discrete-time systems. Both aperiodic and periodic switching sequences are designed to solve the problem.


Chromosome copy gain, loss, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) involving most chromosomes have been reported in many cancers; however, less is known about chromosome instability in premalignant conditions. 17p LOH and DNA content abnormalities have been previously reported to predict progression from Barrett's esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA). Here, we evaluated genome-wide chromosomal instability in multiple stages of BE and EA in whole biopsies. Forty-two patients were selected to represent different stages of progression from BE to EA. Whole BE or EA biopsies were minced, and aliquots were processed for flow cytometry and genotyped with a paired constitutive control for each patient using 33,423 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Copy gains, losses, and LOH increased in frequency and size between early- and late-stage BE (P < 0.001), with SNP abnormalities increasing from <2% to >30% in early and late stages, respectively. A set of statistically significant events was unique to either early or late, or both, stages, including previously reported and novel abnormalities. The total number of SNP alterations was highly correlated with DNA content aneuploidy and was sensitive and specific to identify patients with concurrent EA (empirical receiver operating characteristic area under the curve = 0.91). With the exception of 9p LOH, most copy gains, losses, and LOH detected in early stages of BE were smaller than those detected in later stages, and few chromosomal events were common in all stages of progression. Measures of chromosomal instability can be quantified in whole biopsies using SNP-based genotyping and have potential to be an integrated platform for cancer risk stratification in BE.


The emergence of Cloud computing architectures in last years has changed the way applications are delivered to users. Cloud Computing offers a cost effective solution to the problem of resource provisioning by giving developers access to a virtually infinite pool of resources in a matter of minutes. The scaling capability of Cloud providers allows companies to change the size of their virtual IT infrastructure according to their needs. One of the major problems faced by companies when deciding to move to a Cloud environment is the loss of control on the management of the IT infrastructure. Companies are worried of outages that can not be directly kept under control. In order to cope with this problem Cloud providers offer service level agreements with their users by explicitly quoting the availability that they guarantee to provide. Many Cloud providers offer a service level agreement availability value of 99.95%. Real data shows that the availability that Cloud users experience from their providers is much lower and in the order of 95%.
In order to fulfil the availability requirement developers could replicate their application on multiple Clouds. This thesis targets applications whose components are redundantly deployed on multiple Clouds at the same time. The aim of this thesis is to help developers to evaluate the availability impact of their design choices early during the development process.
We present an extension to the Palladio-Bench modelling framework for the description of availability requirements of Multi-Cloud applications. The extended Palladio component model is automatically translated into a Discrete Time Markov Chain that has been extended in order to model some peculiarities of the Cloud environment. This model is used to analyze the availability characteristics of applications and their ability to fulfil the stated requirements. Such analysis is achieved through a simulation tool implemented in Matlab capable of analyzing the model against user defined environment changes in order to retrieve availability measures for the entire system. Characteristics that define the simulated scenario includes application workload, components availability, costs and service rates.
This work has been developed in the context of the MODAClouds European project


A country entering the EMU surrenders its monetary policy, and its debt becomes denominated in terms of a currency over which it has no direct control. A country's promise to uphold the fiscal limits in the Maastricht Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact is implicitly a promise not to allow its fiscal stance to deteriorate to a position in which it places pressure on the central bank to forgo its price level target to finance fiscal deficits. Violation of these limits has raised questions about potential fiscal encroachment on the monetary authority's freedom to determine the price level. We specify a simple model of fiscal policy in which the fiscal authority faces an upper bound on the size of its primary surplus. Policy is determined by a fiscal rule, specified as an error correction model, in which the primary surplus responds to debt and a target variable. We show that for the monetary authority to have the freedom to control price, the primary surplus must respond strongly enough to lagged debt. Using panel techniques that allow for unit roots and for heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence across countries, we estimate the coefficients of the error correction model for the primary surplus in a panel of ten EMU countries over the period 1970-2006. The group mean estimate for the coefficient on lagged debt is consistent with the hypothesis that the monetary authority can control the price level in the EMU, independent of fiscal influence.


In this letter, new slot antennas with an extended ground are proposed. They are easily built as internal antennas in a compact wireless device. Originated from lambda/4 slot antennas, an additional vertical L-shaped metallic sheet as an extended ground and a main radiator is added to reduce the antenna size. The sheet is designed close to a ground plane, and its height can be chosen according to the available space of a given device. These features offer more design flexibility for antenna and mechanical engineers. In this letter, antennas for WLAN are designed and implemented as examples, and a four-element antenna design using the resultant antennas is demonstrated, showing that the multiple-antenna design occupies only a small region in the system board. With these design examples the proposed structures can be a promising solution for multiple-antenna systems in compact wireless devices.


In a semiconductor fabrication line (fab), high throughput often guarantees high revenue and profit since relatively constant operating cost is required throughout the year; however, maintaining high throughput has been a challenging task due to complicated operational variables in a modern high-end wafer fabrication line. To deal these variables, the industry has developed a fab scheduling system consisting of several functional modules that focus on different areas of decision making. WIP balancing, which aims to prevent starvation of bottleneck toolsets, has been an important component for fab scheduling. This research proposes a new WIP balancing concept, which directly considers load levels of bottleneck toolsets for higher throughput. Also, an MIP (mixed integer programming) model is developed for the new WIP balancing. A performance test shows that the new approach increases throughput, especially when WIP level and product routing flexibility are low.


Extreme evolution algorithm (EEA) is presented to solve fast global optimization problems. The algorithm selects parents according to extreme law but not to the fitness law. Recombining extreme elements obviously accelerates evolution procedure. Secondly, we construct a self-optimizing fuzzy controller based on the EEA. The controller shows a good performance on nonlinear optimization control.


The effect of compost on hydrocarbon degradation was determined during a 120-d incubation period. An evaluation of soil basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity as a monitoring instrument for the bioremediation process of soil contaminated with commercial diesel-oil was carried out. Six soil samples were used: S (control, uncontaminated soil), CS (contaminated soil), CSS (contaminated and sterilized soil), CS1 (contaminated soil plus 1% compost), CS2 (contaminated soil plus 2% compost) and CS3 (contaminated soil plus 4% compost). The relationships between soil biological parameters and the levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) residues were investigated. Results show a large loss of hydrocarbons since the first incubation period due to their volatilization. Sterilized soil control (SCS) showed, on the 7th day, a decrease in hydrocarbons of about 40% in weight. Successively, the decrease of TPH was 56% in the contaminated soil (CS). The amendment with compost significantly enhanced TPH degradation only when applied at the highest rate of 4%. At the end of incubation, CS3 achieved a 66% loss rate after volatilization. During the first 14 days of incubation, dehydrogenase activity of CS was significantly higher than S as a result of an efficient use of organic C of TPH. Amendment, particularly the 4% addition rate, increased the dehydrogenase activity of soil with respect to CS and S. The CS showed a rather higher basal respiration than S for the whole incubation period (24 days), so confirming the ability of microorganisms to use the organic C of TPH as a substrate. The incorporation of compost stimulated the basal respiration that increased with incremental addition of amendment. The presence of hydrocarbons exerted its negative influence on mineralization rate (k) of organic carbon, but it was weakened by the presence of compost. The trend of dehydrogenase activity and basal respiration were positively related with that of residual hydrocarbon in soil. Both biological activities can be considered as good qualitative indicators of biodegradation activity of TPH in soil.


Long-term studies strongly suggest that tight control of blood glucose can prevent the development and retard the progression of chronic complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus. In contrast to conventional insulin treatment, replacement of a patient's islets of Langerhans either by pancreas organ transplantation of by isolated islet transplantation is the only treatment to achieve a constant normoglycemic state and avoiding hypoglycemic episodes, a typical adverse event of multiple daily insulin injections. However, the expense of this benefit is still the need for immunosuppressive treatment of the recipient with all its potential risks. Islet cell transplantation offers the advantage of being performed as a minimally invasive procedure, in which islets can be perfused percutaneously into the liver via the portal vein. As of June 2003, 705 pancreatic islet transplants worldwide have been reported to the International Islet Transplant Registry (ITR) at our Third Medical Department, University of Giessen/Germany. Data analysis shows at 1 year after adult islet transplantation a patient survival rate of 97%, a functioning islet graft in 54% of the cases, whereas insulin independence was meanwhile achieved in 20% of the cases. However, using a novel protocol established by the Edmonton Center/Canada, the insulin independence rates have improved significantly reaching meanwhile a 50-80% level. Finally, the concept of islet cell or stem cell transplantation is most attractive since it offers many perspectives: islet cell availability could become unlimited and islet or stem cells my be transplanted without life-long immunosuppressive treatment of the recipient, just to mention 2 of them.


Introduction: Dizziness has a high incidence in the world population, and IS the complain the main complaint after 65 years of age, present in about 80 percent of the population. Regarding to the origin, in 85 percent of the cases and it is located in the vestibular system and the REMAINING has exclusively ocular, neurological, psychic, metabolic or cardiovascular origins. Central or peripheral balance disorders tend to restrict activities and participation, reduce autonomy, and compromise safety in carrying out the activities of daily living, thus reducing patient functionality. Vestibular physiotherapy stands out as an accessible, efficient, resolutive and safe alternative for functional recovery. For this, specific and customized techniques are used, consisting of maneuvers, oculomotor exercises, static and dynamic balance, postural exercises and manual therapy, besides virtual reality and sensory stimulation . Objective: This study aims to evaluate the different otoneurological conditions, as well as to verify the approach and influence of the vestibular physiotherapeutic intervention in four distinct and individual independent services of vestibular physiotherapy in the south of Brazil. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out, which included the collection of information from medical records of patients attended by physiotherapists from four independent physiotherapy services in the southern region of Brazil, who underwent diagnosis and physical therapy treatment. The inclusion criteria were: charts, with complete information, of care PROCEDURES PERFORMED between June and December 2017; people with vestibular complaints (imbalance, dizziness, vertigo) and related symptoms; and as exclusion criteria, medical records with incomplete information. Results: Data from 218 medical records were included, mean age was 57.7 years and 79 percent were women. The complaint of episodic seizures was the most frequent (65 percent), followed by continuous discomfort (23 percent). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was the leading diagnosis (58 percent), followed by unilateral vestibular hyperfunction (19 percent), anxiety and cervical origin (12 percent), which totaled 89 percent of the sample. For this reason, the canalith repositioning maneuvers or Semont maneuver were the most performed conducts, followed by oculomotor exercises. The high improvement outcome was achieved in 83 percent of those treated, and only 10 percent dropped out. Conclusion: The most prevalent physiotherapy servises mainly found in this research were BPPV and Unilateral Vestibular Hyperfunction. These changes were principally treated with therapeutic maneuvers and personalized exercises throughout the follow-up. The cases in which the cervical region needed a specific approach had effective results. There was a high percentage of improvement and a low rate of abandonment.


Use your smartphone to scan this QR code and download this article ABSTRACT Viet Nam is considered one of countries most affected by climate change and sea-level rise. It results in many negative effects, such as flooding, saline intrusion and beach erosion occurred in the coastal zones. Quang Ninh with more than 250 km coastline, located in the northeastern part of Vietnam, is one of the vulnerable coastal provinces under the heavily affected due to the sea level rise. In order to evaluate the changes of flooded areas and tidal beaches due to the sea level rise in Quang Ninh coastal zone a 2D numerical model is set up, using the 3-grids nesting technique. The numerical model is calibrated by using the harmonic constants of 8 tidal constituents at Hon Dau tide station and validated with the observed data. On the basis of the climate change scenarios (RCP4.5, RCP8.5) in the period from 2020 to 2100, the corresponding sea level values are used in the numerical modeling to calculate the changes of flooded areas and tidal beaches due to the sea level rise. The obtained results on changing of the flooded area and tidal beach in Quang Ninh coastal zone are not only statically by changing water sea levels but also due to changing of the tidal range in this area. The calculated results point out that districts under themost affected of the sea level rise are Quang Yen, Tien Yen, Hai Ha, Mong Cai.


Zoospores of phytopathogenic fungi accumulate at the potential infection sites of host roots by chemotaxis. The aggregated spores then adhere, encyst, germinate, and finally penetrate into the root tissues to initiate infection. Some of the host-specific attractants have already been identified. The host-specific attractants also induce cell differentiation of certain zoospores under laboratory conditions. This indicates that a signal released from the roots of the host plant guides the pest propagules for orientation and prepares them for establishing a host-pathogen relationship by necessary physiological changes. Some non-host plant secondary metabolites were found to markedly regulate behavior and viability of zoospores, suggesting that non-host compounds may also play a role in protecting the non-host plants from the attack of zoosporic fungi. We hypothesized that zoospores perceive the host signal(s) by specific G-protein-coupled receptors and translate it into responses by way of the phosphoinositide-Ca2+ signaling cascade. The details of the signal transduction mechanism in fungal zoospores are yet to be discovered. In this report, we review the signaling and communications between phytopathogenic fungal zoospores and host and non-host plants with special reference to Aphanomyces cochlioides.


In the first part of the paper, we consider the wide range of extrapolative stochastic mortality models that have been proposed over the last 15–20 years. A number of models that we consider are framed in discrete time and place emphasis on the statistical aspects of modelling and forecasting. We discuss how these models can be evaluated, compared and contrasted. We also discuss a discrete-time market model that facilitates valuation of mortality-linked contracts with embedded options. We then review several approaches to modelling mortality in continuous time. These models tend to be simpler in nature, but make it possible to examine the potential for dynamic hedging of mortality risk. Finally, we review a range of financial instruments (traded and over-the-counter) that could be used to hedge mortality risk. Some of these, such as mortality swaps, already exist, while others anticipate future developments in the market.


The intracellular domain of human protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (HPTP beta) (44 kDa) was expressed in bacteria, purified using epitope 'tagging' immunoaffinity chromatography, and characterized with respect to kinetic profile, substrate specificity and potential modulators of enzyme activity. A chromogenic assay based on the Malachite Green method was employed for the detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) released from phosphopeptides by HPTP beta. This assay, modified so as to improve its sensitivity, was adapted to a 96-well microtitre plate format, and provided linear detection between 50 and 1000 pmol of Pi. The cytoplasmic domain of HPTP beta was strongly inhibited by vanadate, molybdate, heparin, poly(Glu, Tyr) (4:1) and zinc ions. In order to explore the substrate preferences of this PTPase, we generated 13-residue synthetic phosphotyrosine-containing peptides that corresponded to sites of physiological tyrosine phosphorylation. HPTP beta demonstrated kcat. values between 76 and 258 s-1 using four different phosphopeptides. The substrate preference of HPTP beta was in the order srcTyr-527 > PDGF-RTyr-740 > ERK1Tyr-204 >> CSF-1RTyr-708 with Km values ranging from 140 microM to greater than 10 mM. The variations in affinity were probably due to differences among the four phosphopeptides compared, particularly with respect to the character of the charged amino acids flanking the phosphotyrosine residue.


Large sardinella (Sardinella maderensis and Sardinella aurita) in warm waters off the coast of Africa are known to be a challenge for pelagic trawl sampling, for example during acoustic surveys for abundance estimation. We observed the swimming behaviour of sardinella mixed with other pelagic species, mainly Cunene horse mackerel (Trachurus trecae), during sampling with a pelagic trawl in the course of a study of swimming behaviour and endurance in the trawl belly and escape behaviour during hauling. The study consisted of two pelagic trawl surveys with R/V "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" off the coast of Angola. We observed the fish with a trawl sonde in the trawl mouth, from a towed vehicle with sonar and camera positioned above the trawl belly or the trawl mouth, and finally with a camera with video recorder in the trawl belly. The behaviour of the fish was quantified from the video recordings by observing the swimming speed of the fish relative to the trawl and by recording the frequency of different behaviours. Two different reactions of schools were observed. We defined a "fright" reaction as a sudden reaction, where individuals swam in different directions and the collective school organisation collapsed for a few seconds. The second type of school reaction, the "adjust" reaction, did not cause the school organisation to disintegrate, but caused the whole school to gradually change its swimming direction by moving closer to one of the sides or the bottom of the trawl. The fish were also observed to swim along within the trawl for tens of minutes, possibly for up to around an hour. The main conclusion of this study is that pelagic species in warm water have the potential to actively swim forward in the trawl and escape during hauling. This could have substantial consequences for trawl sampling during surveys in terms of species- and size- dependent selectivity.


A popular argument for safety regulations is that workers accept dangerous jobs because they have "no choice," or, in other words, because they have few or no alternative employment opportunities. This argument is considered in a game-theoretic framework. Because simultaneous-entry models do not yield pure-strategy equilibria, this paper develops a sequential-entry model to analyze the effect of additional firms on occupational safety. Within the context of the particular functional specification modeled, additional firms (except for the second entrant) lower average accident rates and thus increase occupational safety, consistent with the popular argument. However, with other functional specifications, the model could yield different results. As a result, the paper continues with an empirical investigation of the effect of monopsony power for a particular labor market -- nonunionized Kentucky coal mines in the later 70s -- a labor market which is likely to be particularly susceptible to monopsony. The empirical work shows that areas with many choices of alternative employers within easy driving distance do have lower accident rates. For this labor market, at least, when more alternative choices in the same occupation are offered, average occupational safety levels increase. Policies that improve occupational mobility and the competitiveness of labor markets, therefore, may simultaneously improve occupational safety.


Heart capital is helping the township inhabitants around Cape Town developing their economic status in a sustainable way. They do this through a network of social enterprises. One of their social enterprises is Hubspace, a shared officespace for entrepreneurs from the townships. The enterprises supported here, do not meet the quality standards Heart Capital expects. The company sees the development of design competences of the participants as a powerful tool to enhance the success rates of the incubated entrepreneurs. Therefore they want to broaden the content of the Pinnacle Program with a training on product design.
The design of this training was started with an analysis of the present situation and of competences needed by entrepreneurs. This was succeeded by a literature research on knowledge which entrepreneurs need, after which the training was designed. Finally the first steps to implement the training were taken.
Analysis
The analysis showed that a variety of things in Hubspace are different from what Heart Capital initially intended. Firstly the training program, called Pinnacle Program, is offered very irregularly to the entrepreneurs. By throwing up the Pinnacle program during the research, it became clear that the Hubspace entrepreneurs are characterized by a short term vision and a lack of focus in product design. The second difference involves Heart Capitals wish to incubate social enterprises, as the entrepreneurs do not have this as their primary goal.
The analyses of the designers' characteristics shows that they lack knowledge and ideation capabilities, but are not aware of the necessity of this.
Knowledge
According to the analysis he entrepreneurs have to become aware of the knowledge they lack, for instance of their ideation capabilities. The knowledge will be transferred to the entrepreneurs by cases, projects or problems based learning. This knowledge has to cover the subjects of business development. According to literature, a company has to have knowledge on four different disciplines, namely strategic capital, cultural capital, economic capital and social capital. Next to this, a company should be started via the lean start-up method.
Along this, knowledge on product design, based on four design methods, is also necessary. Firstly the innovation engine shows that the entrepreneurs need knowledge, a good attitude and imagination in order to innovate. Secondly, using design thinking can stimulate the entrepreneurs' imagination and thirdly co-creation methods can help them to create a product which fits the target group. Finaly a variety of brainstorming methods are available which are helpful for the entrepreneurs.
Training design
The training, which can be added to the Pinnacle Program, consists of three parts, a workshop, a project management tool and an event. The workshop "Different perspectives" will enhance the entrepreneurs' knowledge by researching a topic individually, after which they will share their knowledge and apply it to their business. The project management tool "Blackboard" is a blackboard, containing a roadmap for a successful business start-up. This can also be used as a communication channel between Hubspace and the entrepreneurs. The event "Co-create!" brings stakeholders together with the entrepreneurs in order to identify problems, brainstorm and select solutions.
Implementation
Given the time remaining, only the "Co-create!" event was implemented. This showed that the entrepreneurs who participated found it difficult to take ownership of the process. As time was short, Heart Capital has to continue the implementation. To measure the efficiency of the training, the effect can be measured in Hubspace, for the workshop and blackboard, and on a university, in case of the event.
Heart Capital is recommended to give extra attention to the placement of and the achievements on the blackboard. Also the length of the time boxing during the event has to be reconsidered.


ABSTRACT A rare condition in itself, acquired hemophilia A, seldom presents as isolated gross hematuria. It is a serious condition with a high mortality rate and thus clinical suspicion followed by prompt diagnosis is imperative (1). In fact, only 8 cases of such presentation of this condition have been reported thus far in the literature. Of these, none describe the initial presentation of hematuria with the inciting event of a kidney stone. We present a case of a 67-year-old man with signs and symptoms of nephrolithiasis accompanied by profuse hematuria, who was subsequently found to have developed expression of factor VIII inhibitor leading to acquired hemophilia A.


In this article we quantify the aggregate, distributional and welfare consequences of investment expensing and progressivity in flat-tax reforms of the United States economy. We find that investment expensing as in the Hall and Rabushka type of reform brings about sizable output gains and a non-trivial increase in after-tax income inequality. But we also find that it results in large aggregate welfare gains in steady-state. Two additional flat-tax reforms with full investment expensing and varying degrees of progressivity reveal that the distributional role of the tax-exemption in the labor income tax is limited. But we also find that the progressivity of the reforms matters for welfare: economies with more progressive consumption-based flat-taxes are good for the very poor and are ultimately preferred by a Benthamite social planner because they allow households to do more consumption and leisure smoothing. Our findings suggest that moving towards a progressive consumption-based flat tax scheme could achieve the goals of raising government income, stimulating the economy and providing a safety net for the households that have been hit the hardest by the recession


Hydrogen energy applications can be used outdoor and thus exposed to environmental varying conditions like wind. In several applications, natural ventilation is the first mitigation means studied to limit hydrogen build-up inside a confined area. This study aims at observing and understanding the influence of wind, on light gas build-up, in addition. Experiments were performed with helium as releasing gas, in a 1-m 3 enclosure equipped with ventilation openings, varying wind conditions, openings location, release flow rate; obstructions in front of the openings to limit effects of wind were studied as well. Experimental results were compared together and with the available analytical models [1].


In C57BL/6N and C3H/HeN mice known to be free of all murine pathogens and matched for age, sex, and environmental factors, pulmonary clearance was measured over a 72-h time period after exposure to infectious aerosols of 35S-labeled Mycoplasma pulmonis. Reduced clearance of M. pulmonis in C3H/HeN mice relative to C57BL/6N mice was primarily due to impaired mycoplasmacidal activity in the lungs of the C3H/HeN mice. The C3H/HeN mice also had a slightly slower rate of mechanical transport of radiolabel from the lungs in the first 4 h after infection relative to the C57BL/6N mice but not at any later times. By 72 h after infection (relative to 0 h, C3H/HeN mice had an over 4,000% (1.75 X 10(7) versus 4.30 X 10(5] increase in neutrophils and an over 18,000% (more than 2 orders of magnitude) increase in numbers of M. pulmonis recovered from mechanically disaggregated lungs. In contrast, C57BL/6N mice reduced the number of M. pulmonis present by over 83% (nearly 2 orders of magnitude) before any increase in inflammatory cells, which was only a slight increase in lymphocytes and macrophages at 24 h after infection. These results directly link decreased mycoplasmal pulmonary clearance in C3H/HeN mice with the increased susceptibility to, and severity of, murine respiratory mycoplasmosis observed in this strain. The resistance of C57BL/6N mice appears to be related to nonspecific host defense mechanisms responsible for limiting the extent of infection.


The Planning and Zoning Department for Douglas County, Georgia, at the request of its Board of Commissioners, has been working on a complete reorganization of all development regulations, including the creation of new regulations and procedures. This reorganization, entitled The Unified Development Ordinance, covers all facets of development from zoning to site plan review to landscaping requirements, etc., and provides "one stop shopping" with regard to principles and procedures. During this re-write project, the Board of Commissioners made a request that a Watershed Task Force of citizens be assembled to assist staff with principles and procedures specifically in the County's water supply watershed basins. This Task Force has addressed issues relating to zoning, dimensional criteria, alternative options for development and enforcement.


Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive, treatment refractory cancer and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. In humans, 90% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas overexpress altered forms of a tumor-specific Ag, mucin 1 (MUC1; an epithelial mucin glycoprotein), which is a potential target for immunotherapy. We have established a clinically relevant animal model for pancreatic cancer by developing a double transgenic mouse model (called MET) that expresses human MUC1 as self molecule and develops spontaneous tumors of the pancreas. These mice exhibit acinar cell dysplasia at birth, which progresses to microadenomas and acinar cell carcinomas. The tumors express large amounts of underglycosylated MUC1 similar to humans. Tumor-bearing MET mice develop low affinity MUC1-specific CTLs that have no effect on the spontaneously occurring pancreatic tumors in vivo. However, adoptive transfer of these CTLs was able to completely eradicate MUC1-expressing injectable tumors in MUC1 transgenic mice, and these mice developed long-term immunity. These CTLs were MHC class I restricted and recognized peptide epitopes in the immunodominant tandem repeat region of MUC1. The MET mice appropriately mimic the human condition and are an excellent model with which to elucidate the native immune responses that develop during tumor progression and to develop effective antitumor vaccine strategies.


Studies with different bi-frustum CsI(Tl) crystal samples from several providers, coupled to large area avalanche photodiodes (Hamamatsu S8664-1010 2CH), specifically developed for this project, were performed as part of the R&D program for the design of the R3B calorimeter (CALIFA). Particular attention is given to the energy resolution optimization for CsI(Tl) crystal samples with realistic dimensions. The results obtained with Large Area Avalanche Photo-Diode (LAAPD) are very promising and suggest CsI(Tl) as a suitable candidate for the Barrel part of the calorimeter.


Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of the descending aorta, resulting in left ventricular overload, arterial hypertension and cardiovascular and neurological complications. It is frequently diagnosed in infancy and childhood; first-time presentation in adults is rare. The classic symptom is arterial hypertension; most patients are asymptomatic unless hypertension is present. We report the case of a 19-year-old woman who presented with a headache, tiredness and arterial hypertension. Clinical examination revealed that blood pressure was significantly lower in the lower extremities than in the upper extremities and radiofemoral delay (delayed femoral pulses). Severe aortic coarctation was confirmed by computerized tomography aortography; echocardiography was inconclusive. The lesion was successfully treated with balloon dilatation and mesh stent placement.


A lot has been already said about the emerging role of big data in health and disease. Large scale data efforts are increasingly being undertaken in response to the advent of Personalized and Precision Medicine and in association with both the "omics revolution" and the Electronic Health Records centrality. big data have demonstrated that their complex characteristics bring both strength factors and bottlenecks to research problems widely identified, analyzed and reviewed across many sectors of medicine and public health. As the most significant feature of big data is "variety", and this implies heterogeneity, our knowledge in complex disease contexts may substantially benefit from the fusion of different data types when a major role is assigned to harmonization and interoperability strategies. We discuss of an example, diabetes.


Poor drainage of urban storm water can lead to urban inundation which presents a risk to people and property. Previous research has presented various measures to prevent and reduce urban flooding and these measures can be classified into costly but effective structural measures, and economical but less effective non-structural measures. This study suggests a new approach to reduce urban flooding by combining structural and non-structural measures in a target watershed in Seoul, South Korea. Inlet design modification in a detention reservoir (Decentralized Reservoir, DR) is examined in conjunction with combined inlet/outlet management for the DR. Monitoring nodes used to control DR inlet/outlet operations are selected by locating the first flooding node, maximum flooding node and DR inlet node. This new approach demonstrates outstanding flood volume reduction for historical flooding events that occurred in Seoul during 2010 and 2011. Flood volumes during the 2010 event using the combined inlet/outlet operation in the DR were between 1656 m3 and 1815 m3 compared to a flood volume of 6617 m3 using current DR operation. Finally, the suggested operating level for the DR based on the best hydraulic section, system resilience index, and local regulations is 1.2 m.


Viruses exploit their host by using many compounds of the host and cause damage by replication and spreading through the organism. Transposons are DNA elements that can move and multiply themselves within their host genome. As a result, they can cause damaging mutations. This thesis is about a defense mechanism against viruses and transposons, which is called RNA interference (RNAi). This mechanism is conserved in many organisms including plants, fungi, mouse, human and the fruit fly Drosophila. Much effort is used to unravel the mechanism underlying RNAi. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the initiator of the process. First, the dsRNA is cleaved into small pieces (siRNAs). Next, these effecter molecules bind to RNAs. These RNAs are subsequently cleaved and degraded. Viruses and transposons can no longer replicate or spread due to the degradation of their RNAs. RNAi can also be applied to target specific RNAs. This is done to study gene functions. By analysis of the effects of RNAi mediated destruction of an mRNA, which results in loss of the protein, information on the function of a gene can be obtained. It is also possible to use RNAi to improve food products or in disease treatment. In order to use RNAi in the different applications it is necessary to know more about the mechanism. During my research I have identified components involved in RNAi. I have used the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. This a small worm, which has been studied for many years by investigators of different specialities. Therefore, many details about this organism are known and numerous research methods are developed. Chapter 1 of this thesis gives an overview of what is currently known about the mechanism of RNAi. Chapter 2 is about an amplification step in the RNAi mechanism. RRF-1 is an enzyme implicated in this process. We propose that this enzyme produces new dsRNA using the RNA that has to be broken down as a template. This results in more effecter molecules that help to finish the RNAi process. Chapter 3 concerns RRF-3, a family member of RRF-1. RRF-3 seems to inhibit RNAi; removal of RRF-3 results in an increase in the efficiency of RNAi. This can be useful when RNAi is applied. We used the worms without RRF-3 to generate new data on the genes of C. elegans. This is described in chapter 4. Each mRNA was targeted using RNAi and the effects on the worms were determined. New information on approximately 400 genes was obtained. Another aspect of RNAi is the spreading of the process throughout the worm. The dsRNA that triggers RNAi (or a modified form) is able to spread; this results in mRNA breakdown in distant tissues. Chapter 5 discusses several components that seem to be involved in the spreading of RNAi in C. elegans.


This Diploma Thesis, as its title suggests, is focused on the role of beauty and attractiveness in life-success. It is a study of beauty in a national context of current society; the influence of beauty in the Czech Republic, as well as the relationships between beauty, society and the labour market spheres are analysed. This thesis is written with the purpose to better understand the vital relationship of beauty and its reflection on life success. It should clarify the influence of beauty on life-success in general and to define how beauty matters in the Czech Republic in relation to the labour market. The main objective of this thesis is to prove the association between beauty and life success, to identify and explain how different levels of attractiveness influence various parts of life success. The hypotheses for the first part are: that beauty status means in general happiness for people; that beautiful women in our country understand the real privilege of their beauty status; that due to the awareness of their beauty, better looking women invest to their beauty more than average looking women. An additional objective of this thesis is to prove that beauty has significant role in the labour market and Czech population is aware of the advantages of looks in professional area. The hypotheses regarding to this part are: that people believe that the beauty counts more in our country than intelligence; better looking women take their looks as an advantage in the labour market; and that the believing in yourself is connected more closely to the looks, rather than to the skills one has, especially for women. Furthermore, this thesis answers the question if and how beauty affect marriage and addresses the contemporary woman's dilemma of family versus career. Thy hypotheses for the last part are: that better looking women are more likely to end up in a happy marriage, when they decide to be married; and that better looking women in general choose family life over successful career. To verify the aforementioned hypotheses, the analyses of data from the survey carried out in the years 2012-2015 by Petr Matějů and his colleagues under the research project "Neglected Dimensions of Human Capital: The role of intangible assets and attractiveness in the labour and marriage market and lifestyle preferences" are used.