The Cerro Marcelinos CM and Cerro Colorado CC plutons are part of the Candela-Monclova intrusive belt NE Mexico , which is mid-Eocene in age 43-35 Ma . It intrudes into the Sabinas Basin, primarily made up of limestones, of Lower and Upper Cretaceous age. Around several intrusions, including the CM and CC plutons, mineralizations are known. However, how much hidden mineralizations would occur is not known. Trends within the plutons and in contact aureoles are also poorly described at present. Therefore, we provide here in situ magnetic susceptibility MS and gamma ray spectrometry GS data along two composite transects, one in each pluton, to delineate such potential trends. The data show variations of 0.003 × 10-3 SI and 104 × 10-3 in MS and of 7.1 nGy/h and 196 nGy/h in GS with a clear relation to rock type and amount of metasomatism. The radioactive contents in the outcrops of contact metamorphic rocks indicate a contact metasomatism with differing degrees of alteration during emplacement of the plutons. The host limestones have magnetic minerals incorporated during the intrusion process. MS and GS indicate an increase in the degree of acidity towards the center of both plutons, possibly associated with the later stages of the magmatic differentiation process. The MS could divide the igneous rocks into two groups, weakly magnetic group 1 with MS ≤ 3 × 10-3 SI and strongly magnetic group 2 with MS > 3 × 10-3 SI , associated with the magnetite and ilmenite series, respectively. These classes provide useful information regarding the internal magnetic zoning in the plutons, which can be associated with mineralizations of mainly Au and Cu. Mainly, the magnetite series group 2 delimited more perspective zones for mineral exploration. This zoning in MS could guide future mineral exploration in both plutons.


Abstract— The northern lowland plains, such as those found in Acidalia and Utopia Planitia, have high percentages of impact craters with fluidized ejecta. In both regions, the analysis of crater geometry from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data has revealed large ejecta volumes, some exceeding the volume of excavation. Moreover, some of the crater cavities and fluidized ejecta blankets of these craters are topographically perched above the surrounding plains. These perched craters are concentrated between 40 and 70°N in the northern plains. The atypical high volumes of the ejecta and the perched craters suggest that the northern lowlands have experienced one or more episodes of resurfacing that involved deposition and erosion. The removal of material, most likely caused by the sublimation of ice in the materials and their subsequent erosion and transport by the wind, is more rapid on the plains than on the ejecta blankets. The thermal inertia difference between the ejecta and the surrounding plains suggests that ejecta, characterized by a lower thermal inertia, protect the underneath terrain from sublimation. This results in a decreased elevation of the plains relative to the ejecta blankets. Sublimation and eolian erosion can be particularly high during periods of high obliquity.


This article critically examines the effects of global development buzzwords on the local level. Familiar examples are: empowerment, participation, capacity building, good governance and sustainable development. The article presents the findings of a highly exceptional but therefore very suitable case: a community-based forestry project in the Mafungautsi State Forest in Zimbabwe. This project used the same buzzwords throughout its two phases from 1994 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2003, but with remarkably different outcomes per phase. Only when the first donor left in 1999, owing to Zimbabwe becoming an international pariah, was there space for another donor to reconceptualise the same buzzwords on different premises, leading to more positive outcomes. The article concludes that, although rare in today's donor driven target culture, locally appropriate and critical operationalisation of buzzwords is possible even if, or perhaps when, it takes place under unthinkable circumstances.


The present investigation aims to identify the factors related to the integration of the Inclusion and Digital Literacy Program (IDLP or PIAD in Spanish) in the activities carried out by elementary school teachers in Mexican public institutes. To that end, a quantitative methodology with an explanatory scope was used, along with a sample size of 203 teachers from a county south of the state of Sonora, Mexico. Four remaining factors from the theoretical review (educative, personal, pragmatic and contextual) were measured and the results obtained show that the variables associated to the personal factor of the professor are those that are able to explain and impact to a greater degree the integration of the program. It concludes the presence of a manifested necessity in regards to the reformulation and development of capacitation programs and awareness over the impact of technology and the benefits that it brings with the purpose of accomplishing the learning process.


Approach slabs are commonly used to provide a smooth transition between the roadway and the highway bridge. Conventional construction of approach slabs uses cast-in-place reinforced concrete slabs that are anchored to the abutment. Maintenance of bridges, however, often requires repair or replacement of approach slabs due to damage from traffic, washout of fill materials, and settlement of the approach embankment etc. This paper describes recent tests of full-size approach slabs with conventional steel reinforcement as well as pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer grating and glass fiber- reinforced polymer rebars.


In this paper, we examine the link between the concepts of income convergence and pro-poor growth in a panel of countries. We show that if growth is pro-poor, then the convergence which occurs is a 'pro-poor convergence', because it necessarily implies a fall in income inequality. The empirical analysis uses the data on GDP per capita of 15 European countries for the period 1950-2005. Although the long-run shows pro-poor growth and convergence, the results stress that there are differences in such patterns across periods. Thus, the sub-period 1950-1973 exhibits an unambiguously pro-poor growth and convergence process in the European Union. In contrast, the 1974-2005 sub-period points out two phenomena: neither convergence nor divergence (1974-1992), and a neutral process of growth, i.e., income and inequality converge at the same speed (1993-2005). In the light of these findings, one can question the positive effects of European integration and the effectiveness of the economic and social cohesion policies.


Background: A study was made of the role of the school in the process of social equalization in the health of pre-adolescents and adolescents in the city of Bern, Switzerland. Methods: Questionnaire data obtained from 578 13-year-olds and 476 15-year-olds within the frame of the evaluation of a health-promoting schools project were transformed to 30 indicators of well-being at school, hearth, emotional well-being, life-skills, and health behaviour and attitudes. Results: Multiple logistic regression with gender, social class, ethnicity, and school climate as independent variables revealed the disappearance of social gradients by 15 years of age and the emergence of new inequalities related mainly to gender and school climate. Conclusions: The school contributes to the social equalization of the health of adolescents but creates at the same time new disparities, with probably long-lasting consequences. The factors determining the school climate have to be studied more in depth.


SUMMARY Much of the world's essential infrastructure is built along congested coastal belts that are composed of highly compressible and weak soils up to significant depths. Soft alluvial and marine clay deposits have very low bearing capacity and excessive settlement characteristics, with obvious design and maintenance implications on tall structures and large commercial buildings, as well as port and transport infrastructure. Stabilising these soft soils before commencing construction is essential for both long term and short term stability. Pre-construction consolidation of soft soils through the application of a surcharge load alone often takes too long, apart from which, the load required to achieve more than 90% consolidation of these mostly low lying, permeable, and very thick clay deposits can be excessively high over a prolonged period. A system of vertical drains combined with vacuum pressure and surcharge preloading has become an attractive ground improvement alternative in terms of both cost and effectiveness. This technique accelerates consolidation by promoting rapid radial flow which decreases the excess pore pressure while increasing the effective stress. Over the past 15 years, the Author and his co-workers have developed numerous experimental, analytical, and numerical approaches that simulate the mechanics of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) and vacuum preloading, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional analyses, and more comprehensive design methods. These recent techniques have been applied to various real life projects in Australia and Southeast Asia. Some of the new design concepts include the role of overlapping smear zones due to PVD-mandrel penetration, pore pressure prediction based on the elliptical cavity expansion theory, and the rise and fall of pore pressure via prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) under cyclic loads. These recent advances enable greater accuracy in the prediction of excess pore water pressure, and lateral and vertical displacement of the stabilised ground. This E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture presents an overview of the theoretical and practical developments and salient findings of soft ground improvement via PVD and vacuum preloading, with applications to selected case studies in Australia, Thailand, and China.


The latex obtained from Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Mangabeira tree) is widely used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases, including diarrhea, ulcer, gastritis, tuberculosis, acne and warts. In this study, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of H. speciosa latex on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa were examined. Onion bulbs were exposed to different concentrations of latex and then submitted to microscopic analysis using Giemsa stain. Water was used as a negative control and sodium azide as a positive control. The results showed that, under the testing conditions, the mitotic index (MI) of the onion roots submitted to latex treatment did not differ significantly from the negative control, which suggests that the latex is not cytotoxic. Low incidence of chromosome aberrations in the cells treated with H. speciosa latex was also observed, indicating that the latex does not have genotoxic effect either. The MI and the chromosome aberration frequency responded to the latex concentration, requiring more studies to evaluate the dosage effect on genotoxicity. The results indicate that in tested concentrations H. speciosa latex is probably not harmful to human health and may be potentially used in medicine.


BACKGROUND
The combination of male gender, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obesity magnifies cardiometabolic risk. There has been no systematic study evaluating whether testosterone therapy can improve cardiometabolic health in obese men with OSA by improving body composition, visceral abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE
To assess body compositional and cardiometabolic effects of testosterone treatment in obese men with severe OSA.

DESIGN
An 18-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and parallel group trial in 67 men.

METHODS
Participants (age=49 ± 12 years, apnoea hypopnoea index=39.9 ± 17.7 events/h, BMI=31.3 ± 5.2 kg/m(2)) were placed on a hypocaloric diet and received i.m. injections of either 1000 mg testosterone undecanoate (n=33) or placebo (n=34) for 18 weeks. Outcomes were the changes in body composition (total muscle mass, total and abdominal fat, total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computerised tomography (CT)), weight, insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment), abdominal liver fat (CT), arterial stiffness (pulse wave analysis), resting metabolic rate and respiratory quotient (indirect calorimetry) and blood lipids and metabolic syndrome from baseline to week 18.

RESULTS
After 18 weeks, testosterone treatment increased insulin sensitivity (-1.14 units, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -2.27 to -0.01, P<0.05), reduced liver fat (0.09 Hounsfield attenuation ratio, 95% CI 0.009 to 0.17, P=0.03) and increased muscle mass (1.6 kg, 95% CI 0.69 to 2.5, P=0.0009) to a greater extent than placebo. Other measures of body composition and regional adiposity as well as the number of participants with metabolic syndrome did not change. Testosterone also decreased arterial stiffness (augmentation index) by 3.2% (95% CI -6.01 to -0.46%, P=0.02) and decreased the respiratory quotient (95% CI -0.04, -0.08 to -0.001, P=0.04) after 18 weeks compared with placebo.

CONCLUSION
Eighteen weeks of testosterone therapy in obese men with OSA improved several important cardiometabolic parameters but did not differentially reduce overall weight or the metabolic syndrome. Longer term studies are required.


Ampicillin is a bactericidal antibiotic, it penetrates into the bacterial wall better than penicillin G and is active against gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to penicillin G. Ampicillin has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is the most widely used antibiotic for treating infections caused by Listeria, I²-lactamase-negative Haemophilus, enterococci, Shigella, streptococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Neisseria gonorrhea, Neisseria meningitis and many coliform organisms. Ampicillin is excreted unchanged in the urine. In neonates with a gestational and postnatal ages of â�¤ 34 weeks and â�¤ 7 days, respectively, the half-life, the clearance and the distribution volume of ampicillin are 5.0 hours, 0.055 l/h/kg, and 0.40 l/kg, respectively. The ampicillin half-life decreases and the clearance of ampicillin increases with the neonatal maturation whereas the distribution volume is not affected by the neonatal maturation. Ampicillin may be administered orally. Ampicillin penetrates into the cerebrospinal fluid, especially when the meninges are inflamed. The recommended dose of ampicillin is 50 mg/kg every 12 hours in the first week of life, every 8 hours in neonates 1-3 weeks old, and every 6 hours in neonates 4 or more weeks old. Bacteremia, caused by group B Streptococcus, is treated with 150 to 200 mg/kg/day ampicillin and meningitis is treated with 300 to 400 mg/kg/day ampicillin in divided doses. Some organisms are resistant to ampicillin and a combination of gentamicin and a third-generation cephalosporin is recommended. The aim of this study is to review the effects and pharmacokinetics of ampicillin in neonates and infants.


Projection bias is one of the cognitive biases that individuals are prone to project their current preference to future preference prediction and to exaggerate the degree to which their future preference will resemble their current one. Many previous studies have observed and demonstrated this kind of phenomenon in different judgment and decision-making situations. Psychological mechanisms of the projection bias consist in affect-cognition processing, temporal correction, and mental simulation. The factors influencing the projection bias primarily consist of both endogenous factors(including visceral feeling, emotional state and need) and exogenous factors(including event-related information, weather condition and choosing situation). In addition, three kinds of coping strategies of projecting bias are summarized. In the end, this review points out several promising research topics that future researchers of the projection bias may probe into.


In innovation processes, prospects are often seen as a strategic tool to connect multiple actors. They are perceived to be flexible enough to have meaning in all social worlds, and stable enough to travel back and forth between them. In other words, effective prospects are seen as boundary objects and it is thought that these boundary objects can be designed . This paper analyses the innovation journey of the Rondeel poultry husbandry system , in which a prospect- a design in the form of a "masterplan" or "prototype" - was purposefully created as a boundary object to support the innovation process. The analysis indeed reveals the role of the design as a boundary object in creating mutual understanding among diverse actors during the innovation journey of the Rondeel and mobilizing support. But while some aspects of the design remained relatively stable, other aspects constantly changed as: 1) the design had to be adapted to the inhouse technology and capabilities of the development consortium; 2) many new challenges emerged during the innovation journey itself which had to be incorporated. Each new development direction meant a renegotiation of the design and the network of actors that came along with that. To what extent can prospects be created as boundary objects to facilitate innovation journeys? The analyses shows that the Rondeel design was not a fixed end-product: it was constantly reinterpreted and strategically renegotiated in interaction, acting both as an inclusion and exclusion device for actors and options during the innovation journey. Although sometimes exclusion was beneficial to the process, it also sometimes caused lock-ins. The need for interpretative flexibility, the difficulty of establishing an optimum interpretative flexibility and the (unintended) consequences of exclusion nuance the view that designs can be purposefully created as effective boundary objects . We end by discussing the term boundary "object?, which suggests a stable and passive entity. We argue that it might be better to talk about "boundary subject? since designs constantly change and exert agency themselves while the innovation travels through time and across different spaces.


Cathepsin B and collagenolytic cathepsin were obtained from bovine spleen and human placenta and identified as thiol proteinases. Both enzymes degraded insoluble fibrous collagen maximally at pH 3.5 and soluble monomeric collagen near pH 4.5. The response to activators and inhibitors was similar for both enzymes. Collagenolytic cathepsin was unable to degrade the synthetic substrates of cathepsin B and was also shown to differ in its physico-chemical properties. Minor differences were noted in the action of these cathepsins on insoluble fibrous collagen from different tissues. It was concluded that the rate and extent of the dissolution of fibrous collagen was determined by the number and location of the interchain cross-links, the amount of the associated non-collagenous components and the type of solvent ions, but not by the collagen phenotype.


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is aetiologically very closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). World‐wide, hepatitis B virus infection is the predominant aetiological factor in developing countries, whereas in industrialized countries, HCV has a far more important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. The varying weights of the aetiological role of HCV infection are compared among countries. The speed of progression of chronic hepatitis C to cirrhosis, thenceforth to HCC, and certain discrepancies between an American study and the Japanese experience are described. The reason for the recent surge of HCV infection and subsequent increase in the incidence of HCC is also discussed. The genetic mechanism of HCV‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis is still poorly understood.


Three commonly used techniques, namely atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS-Ashing and AAS-Non  Ashing) and titrimetry (potassium permanganate titration) have been evaluated in this study to determine the calcium content in six food samples whose calcium levels ranged from 0 to more than 250mg/100g sample dry matter (DM) basis. An attempt was made to evaluate these three techniques of analysis for all different levels on the basis of accuracy, precision, reproducibility of results, simplicity of operation, economy, speed, sensitivity, specificity, and safety. Results show that AAS-Ashing is the most reliable technique for calcium determination as it is most accurate and detects more calcium compared to the other two techniques. Moreover, independent of calcium levels, potassium permanganate titration proved to be the second most reliable method and determinations could be made more precisely, but it suffered from interference by other ions. AAS-Non Ashing proved to be the least accurate technique of analysis. The latter technique, however requires the shortest sample preparation procedure. Keywords : AAS-Ashing, AAS-Non Ashing, potassium permanganate titration, calcium, food.


Purpose: Customer experience is more critical than ever to firms' successes and future growth opportunities. Typically measured through aggregate satisfaction scores, businesses have been criticised for oversimplifying what experience means. The article provides a new perspective on experience management and offers a novel way forward for customer-centric strategizing.Design/methodology/approach: Mapping the current digital technologies being used across businesses in all sectors to engage and connect with customers more effectively, this article outlines some of the fundamental challenges of experience management as well as future opportunities to enhance business practice.Findings: Businesses are capturing what they know about customers, rather than what a customer thinks and feels about the firm. Many experience management initiatives create customer pains (not gains), while for businesses, decision-making can be jeopardised by fake customer data. A framework based upon the five experience dimensions is presented for optimal customer-driven decision-making.Originality: Businesses are seeking to grow intelligent customer experience analysis capabilities to disrupt traditional business models towards greater customer-centricity and to track the digital spread of positive and negative experiences. Examining how this is being done and where the weaknesses lie by bridging management practice and the scientific literature, this article provides new knowledge to advance customer-centric strategies for growth and profitability.Practical implications: Going beyond aggregate satisfaction scores that serve as an output rather than an input into businesses strategizing, the article presents an actionable framework for targeted investments and enhanced experience management practices.


The number distribution of millimeter-size dust particles in cometary comae is difficult to establish by optical/IR means alone. However, millimeter wave continuum radio observations are sensitive to these large particles that may control the total dust coma mass. The dust/gas mass ratio derived by combining dust and spectral line observations provides very important and basic information about the physical nature of comets. In late February 1997, FCRAO expanded its intensive comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) spectral line mapping campaign with a program of millimeter wave bolometry observations of Hale-Bopp's dust coma. The observations were taken with the SuZIE multielement bolometer mounted on the FCRAO 14m radio telescope. This bolometer is capable of taking data simultaneously at wavelengths of 1.1, 1.4, and 2.1mm. Initial results from late February 1997 indicate that the equivalent blackbody cross section at 1.4mm was (6.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) km, implying a dust mass of M = 1.7 x 10(12) kg in the coma at the time of observation, and a dust mass production rate dM/dt = 3.2 x 10(5) kg s(-1) . For log[Q(OH)] = 30.35, this gives a dust/gas mass ratio of approximately 3.5. The slope of the continuum emission spectrum corresponds to an opacity index of beta = 1.36 +/- 0.30, intermediate between the values of beta for circumstellar dust disks and the ISM. This may be interpreted as a consequence of an evolving dust particle size distribution as the dust grains expanded outwards into the coma of comet Hale-Bopp.


To observe and evaluate the foulage therapy efficacy in the treatment of tibialis anterior exercise fatigue in shot putters by surface electromyography and isokinetic test. A total of 120 patients with tibialis anterior exercise fatigue treated at our hospital were enrolled (shot putters). The patients were randomized into foulage therapy group and rest control group, with 60 cases in each group. The model of left tibialis anterior exercise fatigue was built under isokinetic training mode, which was performed before and after treatment. During modeling, surface electromyography was applied to measure each indicator in the passive movement of ankle. There was no significant difference regarding the integral electromyography, maximum amplitude, median frequency and slope between both groups under isokinetic mode before therapy (P > 0.05). After 5 minutes of rest, another test showed profound decrease in the maximum amplitude and gain rate, integral electromyography and gain rate, median frequency and gain rate as well as slope and gain rate (P < 0.05). However, when foulage therapy was performed, the enhancement of the above indicators was significantly higher in the foulage therapy group than those of the rest control group (P < 0.05). Application of foulage therapy could markedly improve muscle fatigue.


The purpose of the work is to accurately calculate the forces acting on the working mechanism of wheel loader when excavating granulated material. In order to examine mobile machines movement processes, MSC.ADAMS is used to carry out multi-body system simulation and hydraulics sub-system simulation. Because the flexibility of the component of the working mechanism of wheel loader can not be neglected, ANSYS is used to compute the data describing the behaviour of the flexible component of working mechanism of wheel loader. Based on the Fundamental Earthmoving Equation, this paper describes a methodology and basic formulations of forces between the tool and the material to be moved as well as the internal forces in the pile to be dug from. The method has been implemented in an MSC.ADAMS model of a working mechanism wheel loader. The numerical simulation test on LCM(Linyi Construction Machinery) Wheel Loaders under various position of working equipment will be done to predict the forces acting on the machines during digging cycles.


In the frog isolated spinal cord, the main parameters of spike activity of the lymphatic center's motoneurons were studied in normal conditions and in altered rhythm of their functioning. Artificial excitation of the lymphatic center by means of stimulation of the dorsal roots, irrespective of the electrical stimuli rate (within the range 1-5 Hz), was shown to induce the same regularities of the evoked motor activity generation in the lymphatic center in the altered rhythm, as in the spontaneous activity of the motoneurons. The main parameters of the evoked activity of motoneurons under these conditions are not significantly dissimilar to the respective parameters of spontaneous activity, either.


The Southwest Oncology Group formed a database of 2,501 patients consecutively enrolled in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) trials since 1976. This report summarizes an analysis of this database to determine predictors of 2- and 5-year survival in limited stage disease (LD) and 1- and 2-year survival in extensive stage disease (ED). In addition, we analyzed the frequency of late recurrences, toxicity, and quality of life issues in the long-term survivors. For consecutive studies, greater than or equal to 2-year survival in LD were 15 percent, 21 percent, 28 percent, and 43 percent; 5-year survivals were 5 percent, 9 percent, 8 percent, and 20 percent. In ED, greater than or equal to 1-year survivals were 27 percent, 23 percent, 21 percent, and 42 percent; greater than or equal to 2-year survivals were 6 percent, 5 percent, 3 percent, and 19 percent. Using the logistic regression multivariate model, independent favorable predictors of 5-year survival for patients accrued to our older LD trials were normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values and good performance status. Therapy as employed in these trials was not an independent factor. However, if patients enrolled on more recent trials were included, 2-year predictors could be assessed. Therapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy and female gender then became additional independent favorable predictors. In ED, a single metastatic site and a normal LHH value were favorable predictors of survival beyond 1 year. The retrospective review of 63 patients with LD who survived at least 5 years found 33 asymptomatic patients with no recurrent disease; 6 with recurrent SCLC, 3 of whom died; 7 who died of non-cancer-related causes or unknown causes; 3 who died of secondary primary lung cancer; and 14 alive with persistent central nervous system symptoms and signs, possibly due to prophylactic brain radiation as given in the first 3 trials. No increased incidence of this syndrome has yet been observed in subsequent trials. For ED patients, 25 of 51 survivors greater than or equal to 2 years subsequently died of recurrent SCLC. The majority of the long-term survivors with ED (35 of 51) had either a single metastatic site or metastases limited to opposite side of the chest or regional nodes. Our multivariate models support the conclusion that aggressive combined modality, concurrent induction therapy, along with favorable prognostic variables, independently contribute to the improved long-term survival we have observed in LD. Longer follow-up is required to confirm that this improvement has occurred with less late toxicity.


In order to investigate the microstructure evolution under high strain rate deformation of magnesium alloy, AZ31B magnesium alloy was impacted by Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar within the strain rates of 496s-1 to 2120s-1, then the specimens were observed by optical microscopy. The results show that when the strain rate are relatively low (496s-1-964s-1), the microstructure is predominated by high density of twinning, while increase the strain rate to 2120s-1 the volume fraction of twins is decreased. This implies that at relatively lower strain rate the deformation mechanism of AZ31B magnesium alloy under impact loading is twinning; increasing the strain rate the prismatic slip and pyramidal slip may be active besides twinning.


Titania nanotubes were successfully synthesized by a simple procedure with needle-like CaCO3 as inorganic templates at a room temperature in nonaqueous system. Through the hydrolysis of tetrabutoxytitanium (TBOT), titania crystal nucleus were deposited on the CaCO3 nanoparticles due to heterogeneous nucleation, followed by aggregation condensation on the surface of needle-like CaCO3 cores and removal of CaCO3 to produce hollow titania nanotubes. Its morphological and structural properties were characterized by TEM, SEM, and XRD, respectively. The nanotubes have a uniform tubular hollow structure with one or two big openings ends, the length of about 2.0 μm, the average inner diameters of 100-200 nm, respectively, and a wall thickness of approximately 40 nm. The phase formed was anatase after calcinations at 723 K for 2 h and nanotubes with hollow structure remained their original shapes, and the BET surface area of as-synthesized titania nanotubes was 243.45 m2/g, and decreased to 144.76 m2/g after calcinations


A compact back-end interface for silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) implementing Zener diode-based temperature compensation has been developed for the remote detection of beta and gamma radiation. Remote detection is facilitated by the development of an efficient data management system utilising MySQL database storage for recording periodic spectra data for wireless access over a private Wi-Fi network. A trapezoidal peak shaping algorithm has been implemented on an FPGA for the continuous conversation of pulses from the SiPM, signifying the detection of a radiological particle, into spectra. This system has been designed to fit within a 46 mm cylindrical diameter for in situ characterization, and can be attached to one or more SiPMs used in conjunction with a range of scintillators. LED blink tests have been used to optimise the trapezoidal shaper coefficients to maximise the resolution of the recorded spectra. Experiments with an array of SiPMs integrated with a NaI(Tl) scintillator exposed to sealed sources of Co-60, Cs-137, Na-22 and Am-241 have shown that the detector achieves a peak efficiency of 27.09 ± 0.13% for a gamma peak at 59.54 keV produced by Am-241, and a minimum energy resolution (Delta E/E) of 4.27 ± 1.16% for the 1332.5 keV gamma peak from Co-60.


We present a new methodology for predicting the spread of information in a social network. We focus on the Twitter network, where information is in the form of 140 character messages called tweets, and information is spread by users forwarding tweets, a practice known as retweeting. Using data of who and what was retweeted, we train a probabilistic collaborative filter model to predict future retweets. We find that the most important features for prediction are the identity of the source of the tweet and retweeter. Our methodology is quite flexible and be used as a basis for other prediction models in social networks.


This paper addresses an optimal Reactive Power Planning (RPP) of power system. The Static Var Compensator (SVC) is introduced into power system in order to reactive power support and voltage control. The locations and the outputs of SVCs are determined using our proposed optimal reactive power planning model. The proposed method optimizes several objective functions at the same time within one general objective. The optimized objectives are minimization of total investment in reactive power support, average voltage deviation and minimization of total system loss. These objective functions are one of the most important objectives for every transmission and distribution systems. Tabu search (TS) is used to solve the optimization problem. The validity of the proposed method is tested on a typical power system.


This paper presents a nonlinear robust control design for the levitation and propulsion of a magnetic levitation (Maglev) system. The Maglev dynamics under consideration are nonlinear and contain uncertain dynamics including the negative damping due to eddy currents. The proposed recursive controller is designed using nonlinear state transformation and Lyapunov's direct method in order to guarantee global stability for the nonlinear Maglev system. Simulation results are provided to show the eectiveness of the proposed control design.


AbstrAct A substantial advance in our understanding on the estrogen signaling occurred in the last deca-de. Estrogens interact with two receptors, ESR1 and ESR2, also known as ERα and ERβ, respec-tively. ESR1 and ESR2 belong to the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. In addition to the well established transcriptional effects, estrogens can mediate rapid signaling, triggered within seconds or minutes. These rapid effects can be mediated by ESRs or the G protein-cou-pled estrogen receptor GPER, also known as GPR30. The effects of estrogen on cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis are often mediated by growth factors. The understanding of the cross-talk between androgen, estrogen and growth factors signaling pathways is therefore es-sential to understand the physiopathological mechanisms of estrogen action. In this review we focused on recent discoveries about the nature of the estrogen receptors, and on the signaling and function of estrogen in the male reproductive system.


The problem of indebtedness among the rural households of Punjab was become more serious in the last two decades. A large number of studies were carried out in India and abroad to look into the problem of rural indebtedness and its consequences but most of these studies are either based upon a very small sample of a few districts or cover the farmers only. The present study would be wider in scope as it was also included artisans, agricultural labourers (non- cultivators) along with the farmers (cultivators). This study analysed the situation of Punjab as a whole and district wise analysis was done. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt was made to analyse the growth of indebtedness among the rural households in Punjab and attempt was made to explain the utilisation pattern of loan used by rural households and tried to trace out how the situation of household indebtedness in the Punjab evolved and changed over the course of about ten years. The study will be helpful to planners, academicians, researchers as well as policymakers for solving the problem of indebtedness among rural households for the betterment of the society as a whole. It is suggested that encouragement should be given to subsidiary occupations, improvement in access to health at subsidised rate in rural areas to curb the indebtedness and to monitor the informal mechanism of credit by Government and financial institutions along with availability of the appropriate delivery of credit into the agricultural as well as non-agricultural sector of rural areas by eliminating costly sources of money lenders for the accurate functioning of the economy.


With recent advances in semiconductor manufacturing and computational technology, digital
control systems have grown to a relatively mature stage, and will soon become a viable replacement
for their analogue counterparts in the design of isolated and non-isolated DC-to-DC converters in
general, and
yback converters in particular. Inspired by this possibility, the thesis adopts the
first-ever digital control design in the field for wide-operating range
yback converters, based on a
low-cost microcontroller.
Accurate transformer modelling is a necessary exercise for the study of the
yback converters
as well as for model-based controller design. Therefore, a non-linear dynamic model, which allows
an accurate representation of both linear dynamics and non-linear core behaviour in a practical
transformer, is proposed. The parameters of the proposed transformer model are obtained using
time-domain system identification based on experimental data. In order to reduce the round-of
error typically occurring in the collected time-domain data, a method which is based on adjusting
the value of the current sensing resistor is also adopted.
To facilitate control design, a control-oriented model is developed based on the full converter
model through a simplification step. As demonstrated in the thesis, the control-oriented model is
able to preserve the bulk of the full converter model fidelity, critical for a control design step, while
at the same time requiring a significantly shorter execution time for simulation when compared
with the full converter model. For the purpose of implementing isolated-feedback control within a
low-cost microcontroller, a magnetic sensing principle, which can operates in both continuous and
discontinuous conduction modes of the
yback converter, is developed. The proposed sensing principle
is also based on the bias winding voltage of the
yback transformer to estimate the converter
output voltage; however, the sampling instant is chosen at the point where the secondary current
is known, instead of the knee point where the secondary current is zero. The implementation of
the proposed sensing technique, based on analogue circuitry and a microcontroller, is also studied.
Finally, optimum digital control for a wide-operating range
yback converter is developed and
implemented. The control architecture is purposely designed to perform a variety of tasks, including
efficiency optimisation, magnetic sensing, and valley switching operation, in addition to
the main task of regulating the output voltage. Three different methods for synthesizing optimum
compensators, based on mixed-sensitivity H1 robust control theory, gain-adaptive predictive functional
control (GAPFC) theory, and gain-adaptive quantitative feedback theory (GAQFT), are also
studied. In order to improve the performance of the robust controllers, parametric variations of
the
yback converter models are minimized before applying the robust control. Two possibilities
for reducing converter parametric model uncertainty, based on adapting the converter open-loop
gain and varying the sampling rate of the digital controller, are also demonstrated.


PURPOSE OF REVIEW
We reviewed the global state of harm reduction for people who use and/or inject drugs.

KEY FINDINGS
Although harm reduction is now the key response to HIV among people who use drugs globally, intervention coverage remains suboptimal, exacerbated by chronic under-funding, declining donor support and limited domestic investment, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. We describe the current environment and review recent innovations and responses, including peer distribution of naloxone, low dead space syringes, drug consumption rooms and drug-checking services. However, despite efforts by people who use drugs and supporting partners to sustain harm reduction services and to develop and implement novel interventions, programmes are often under-scaled and under-resourced and people who use drugs continue to face significant barriers to accessing services.

SUMMARY
There is an urgent need to bring existing harm reduction programmes to scale and to broaden their scope, as well to complement them with innovative interventions targeting new populations and new substances. Under and disinvestment in harm reduction and the absence of enabling legal environments threatens to undermine the global HIV response and exacerbate the morbidity and mortality associated with the current epidemic of opioid overdose.


A method is described of structuring or 'freezing' digital encoding into a magnetic tape so that it is permanent and non-erasable. It is then shown how normal or 'soft' magnetic encoding can also be recorded on such a tape, and ensure the integrity of the normal encoding. It is further shown how structured tape may be fixed to the cards and documents to make them secure and machine readable.


The Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pSK1 carries Tn4001, a 4.7-kilobase (kb) transposon which specifies resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, and kanamycin. In addition, pSK1 mediates resistance to trimethoprim and linked resistance to ethidium bromide (Ebr) and to quaternary ammonium compounds (Qar). Restriction endonuclease analysis of pSK1 and a deleted derivative of pSK1 revealed that the gene(s) responsible for Ebr Qar lies within a 5.2-kb HindIII fragment. This fragment has been cloned into the Escherichia coli plasmid vector pBR322, and transformants of an E. coli K-12 strain exhibited Ebr Qar. Subcloning of the 5.2-kb insert, combined with data from electron microscopic analysis of deleted derivatives of pSK1, located the Ebr Qar determinant(s) on a 2.3-kb segment of pSK1 DNA.


Conceptualised as theatre, this article examines 431 codified cases of torture in Papua during 1963-2010 as well as 214 testimonies of torture survivors, state actors and third parties in order to explore the interplay and dynamics of four interrelated elements: rationalities that underpin the web of power relations, techniques of domination, actors with their multiple and fluid identities as well as their motivational postures. Theatricality proffers a new analytical lens to examine half a century of state-sponsored brutality surrounded by virtually complete impunity and denials which leaves a little space to escape the theatre. It discloses 'the art of government,' the way the Indonesia state exhibits its sovereign power to govern Papua.


Sulfonated polystyrene (S–PS), which is of considerable scientific and technological interest, has been traditionally prepared by the sulfonation of preformed polystyrene. This report describes the preparation and properties of S–PS prepared by emulsion copolymerization of styrene and sodium styrene sulfonate. S–PS prepared by copolymerization gave solubility, solution behavior and thermal characteristics that are consistent with an ionomeric structure. The solubility characteristics indicated some chain-to-chain sulfonate heterogeneity. Thermal analysis studies indicated that the glass transition does not increase with increasing sulfonate content. This is contrary to what has been observed for S–PS prepared by sulfonation and suggests that the S–PS prepared by copolymerization is fundamentally different in structure than S–PS prepared by sulfonation of polystyrene.


The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Knoop hardness of high viscous glass ionomer cement (GIC) Ketac Molar Easy Mix (3M ESPE, Saint Paul, USA) submitted to different types of compounds for surface protection. Sixty specimens of GIC were made in PVC molds with 7.5 mm diameter and 2.5 mm thickness. Divided in 6 groups: G1, Control (no protection); G2, Cavitine (Copal varnish); G3, Magic bond (Adhesive); G4, Adper Single Bond 2 (Single bottle adhesive); G5, Solid Petroleum Jelly; G6, Nail Varnish. The surface protection was applied after initial setting reaction. The specimens were immersed in deionized water, at 37 degrees C, for 24 h. The surfaces were polished in a rotation machine (Aropol 2V). The hardness test was accomplished in a Digital Microhardness tester HVS-100. In each specimen five indentations were done and repeated after 30 days and 4 months, under the same conditions. The results were submitted to Two-way ANOVA and Tukey Test. The only material that differed from the control group was the nail varnish (p < 0.001), with the other materials showing no significant difference from the control group. It was concluded that the best material for surface protection of GIC was the nail varnish, but because of possible harmful effects, petroleum jelly could be a better option.


Background and purpose: Amylases are commercially important enzymes with various biotechnological, clinical and medical applications. This study aimed at scaling up α-amylase production elicited by rice husk in stirred-fermenter using Bacillus lichneniformis-AZ2 isolated from Qinarje Hot Spring.
Materials and methods: Effect of temperature, aeration rate and agitation speed on bacterial growth and ɑ-amylase production were investigated under batch fermentation process in a 3-Lit stirred-fermenter. OFAT method was followed to select optimum level of each parameter. Other factors were set upon the results of previous experiments carried out in shake-flask scale.
Results: Maximum α-amylase production of 17.66 ± 0.87 U/mL (2.1 folds more than shake-flask cultures) was achieved in stirred-fermenter with optimized agitation speed of 100 rpm and 1 vvm aeration rate at 37oC after 60 h of incubation. This time was shorter than the corresponding fermentation time obtained from shake-flask experiments by half. A comparison of kinetic parameters of fermentation in stirred-fermenter and shake-flask cultures revealed that B. licheniformis-AZ2 was more active to synthesize ɑ-amylase in fermenter. In shaken cultures Qx, Qp, Yp/x, µmax, qp and td, were 0.27 (g/L/h), 228.6 (U/L/h), 13.64 (U/g), 0.055 (h-1), 0.76 (U/g/h) and 12.48 h, whereas in stirred-fermenter the above values were 0.40 (g/L/h), 723.1 (U/L/h), 45.17 (U/g), 0.120 (h-1), 5.42 (U/g/h) and 5.78 h, respectively.
Conclusions: SmF in stirred-fermenter is a potential strategy for ɑ-amylase production. Although for commercialization further studies are needed in pilot-scale. Rice husk as a low-cost agro-waste is preferable to use as the carbon and energy sources, which provides a great ɑ-amylase elicitation.


Bitumen is widely used in road construction. Due to heavy traffic loads and environmental factors, bitumen properties will change during service life. Bitumen will age due to diffusion of oxygen and UV radiation. Repeated loading will result in decreasing strength because of fatigue. In this paper, one layer clay powder was used to modify base bitumen with different mass contents. Then the influences of ultraviolet radiation (UV) aging on the dynamic fatigue properties of the layered clay powder were evaluated by Dynamic Shear Rheomoter (DSR) and Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The ageing evaluation shows that the ageing resistance of bitumen is improved and this improvement is more notable in bitumen fatigue than mixture.


Network thermodynamics is used for computer simulation of complex biological systems. The calculations are done on SPICE2. The sensation of taste is mediated by electrical events in taste bud cells embedded in the tongue epithelium. A model of the tongue epithelium was developed based on a network model of ion transport in a kidney epithelium. The model successfully simulates some aspects of both steady-state and time-dependent electrical measurements observed in the rat tongue when exposed to a wide range (50-2000 mM) of NaCl concentrations, the concentration range of interest for salt taste. The simulations lead to two main results. First, in a time-dependent analysis, in response to a prolonged hyperosmotic NaCl stimulus, the model predicts intracellular depolarization followed by repolarization. Second, steady-state calculations indicate that the Na/sup +/ channel in the luminal membrane of the taste cell must have different properties than those typical in similar epithelia.<<ETX>>


This paper presents the design, implementation, and experimental validation of a digitally-controlled emulator of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for static and dynamic behavior. The emulator is a low cost, easy to use, and portable device designed to evaluate power systems and control strategies for fuel cell-based generation systems. For the implementation of this emulator, an appropriate mathematical model is chosen, parameterized, and experimentally validated. The resulting model is processed digitally by the emulator, which generates the appropriate electrical behavior to a load. The emulator power stage is implemented by using a two-inductor step-down DC/DC switching converter, which is controlled directly by the digital processing system. Later, the electrical scheme of the power stage and the block diagram of the system are presented, and the behavior of the emulator is illustrated with a simulation. Finally, the emulator is validated using experimental data.


As laptop computers begin to dominate the marketplace, wireless adapters with varying bandwidth and range capabilities are being developed by hardware vendors. To provide multihop communication between these computers, ad hoc mobile networking is receiving increasing research interest. This paper deals with the analysis of the transmission range effects on On-Demand Multicast Routing Protocol (ODMRP) multicasting communication. Since ODMRP uses broadcast to transmit multicast data packets between nodes, the transmission range plays a key role in determining the performance of ODMRP. While increasing a node's transmission range allows fewer hops between a source and destination and enhances overall network connectivity, it also increases the probability of collisions and reduces the effective bandwidth seen at individual nodes. Thereby this analysis study from the various graphs generated gives us a better clarity over the selections of the suitable network configuration.


Purpose
The doctrine of coincidentia oppositorum (the coincidence of opposites), the interpenetration, interdependence and unification of opposites has long been one of the defining characteristics of mystical (as opposed to philosophical) thought. Mystics of various persuasions have generally held that such paradoxes are the best means of expressing within language, truths about a whole that is sundered by the very operation of language itself. Any effort, it is said, to analyze these paradoxes and provide them with logical sense is doomed from the start because logic itself rests upon assumptions, such as the principles of non-contradiction and excluded middle, that are violated by the mystical ideas.

Design/methodology/approach
Mathematical development of a dialectical logic with truth-values in a complex field.

Findings
The coincidentia oppositorum is a common trope in many religious traditions, particularly those with a mystical or initiatory aspect, and fields of knowledge such as Psychology and Quantum Physics, with wave-particle duality. The aim of this paper is to present a mathematical theory of the coincidence of opposites, and where truth-values are expressed in a complex field. A propositional coincidentia oppositorum algebra is developed.

Originality/value
Although the literature of paraconsistent logics is abundant, the authors think that this is the first time that a dialectical logic has been developed with truth-values belonging to a complex field. The impossibility of reaching an absolute truth from opposite propositions is discovered, both being true, because of the existence of irrational numbers in the truth-values.


Mobility has become a mandatory feature of the future Internet as mobile computing gains increasing popularity among Internet users. The rapidly evolving heterogeneous wireless environment provides a variety of communication resources for the mobile host. In order to fully benefit of these wireless access networks an efficient and quality oriented mobility management system has to be employed. This paper presents an innovative solution for handover management based on an estimation of multimedia streaming quality which considers both quality of service and user quality of experience in the decision making process. The proposed solution aims at improving the user perceived quality in the context of mobile multimedia streaming by efficiently exploiting all the communication resources available to the mobile host. Simulation-based performance evaluation shows the performance improvement, both in Quality of Service and user perceived quality, when the proposed solution is used compared to other mobility solutions.


The salt marshes, lying at the land-sea temperate interface, furnish a plethora of ecosystems services such as biodiversity niche support, ocean-climate change regulation, ornithology recreo-tourism or plant gathering by hand. They undergo significant worldwide losses due to their conversion into crop fields and to their spatial compression between the rising sea-level and the armoring shoreline. Their monitoring however requires to use a suite of remote sensing sensors to embrace the regional scale while capturing the plant details. This research innovatively adopts a multiscale approach using a cascading spaceborne and airborne process, from the 10-m Sentinel-2, through the 3-m Dove, to the 0.03-m unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) imageries. The high to very high temporal resolution of the Sentinel-2 and Dove enabled to cover twenties and tens of km2 over five and four years, respectively, in the form of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) classes, associated with microphytobenthos, low, medium and high salt marsh vegetation, including the opportunistic Elyma genus. The NDVI was then modelled at the UAV scale (a few km2) using a three-layered NN prediction, providing the final near-infrared (NIR), and the intermediate red, green and blue reflectance imageries, calibrated/validated/tested with the Dove reflectance imageries (R2NIR=0.98, R2red=0.88, R2green=0.84, and R2blue=0.90). The 100fold increase in pixel size allowed to detect the decimeter-scale objects of the tidal flats and salt marshes, to enlarge the NDVI class ranges, and hold great promise to model other spectral bands at the UAV scale for further deeply enhancing the salt marsh mapping.


A large number of studies on neuronal physiology and plasticity have provided a detailed picture of the molecular machinery underlying the modulation of neuronal activity. On the contrary, the mechanisms controlling properties of complex neuronal networks remain poorly understood. At present, the neuronal functional properties are investigated either by a large-scale approach (i.e. MicroElectrode Array devices, MEAs) that enables the study of the general activity of a complex neuronal network, or alternatively by a micro-scale approach (i.e. intracellular or patch electrodes) suitable for the detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms that actively contribute to the generation and modulation of the single neuron activity. Systems based on electrodes have yielded important results in neurophysiology, but now they start to show some severe limits, such as the possibility of inducing cellular damage in the case of intracellular electrodes and the poor spatial resolution in the case of MEAs. Optical methods for neuronal stimulation, e.g. using caged compounds, and for neuronal activity recording, e.g. using Voltage-Sensitive fluorescent Dyes (VSDs), can be useful tools to overcome these limits. Local light stimulations are obtained activating caged glutamate by UV light pulses. Single neurons or selected parts of them can be stimulated using optical fibres micro-positioned in the neuronal culture or optical waveguides micro-structured in the glass coverslip, on which the neurons are cultured, to precisely drive UV light. Optical recordings of the electrical activity from the entire network are performed using di-4-ANEPPS Voltage-Sensitive Dye and a standard epi-fluorescence microscope equipped with a dedicated large-sensor high-speed camera. Combining these two optical methods the micro-scale approach (stimulation) meets the large-scale approach (recording). This methodology may turn out to be extremely useful for testing the ability of drugs to affect neuronal properties as well as alterations in inter- and intra-neuronal communication.


Objective Theory suggests that impaired executive functioning (EF) might explain several symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. However, only a few studies have examined the efficacy of EF training for the children using randomized control trial designs, and only two of them found significant benefits of the training. Method We designed Comprehensive Attention Training System (CATS), and tested this new EF intervention for children with ASD in a small-sampled randomized controlled trial. Twenty-five children with ASD aged six to twelve were randomly assigned to either the CATS or the control training and were assessed pre- and post-training. Results Relative to the control group, the CATS group improved on EF as measured by the trail-making test, avoiding perseverative errors, and forming conceptual responses in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task. There were also indications that CATS contributed to long-term communication skills as measured by the Vineland adaptive behavior scales. Conclusions We report preliminary evidence that the CATS intervention may improve the EF of school-aged children with ASD compared to a control intervention. We discuss the results in terms of their generalizability to other developmental disorders.


This brief examines the efficacy of providing housing mobility assistance to families with vouchers by examining the Housing Opportunity Program in Chicago. To help families move to opportunity neighborhoods, HOP provides housing search counseling and unit referrals, free credit reports and budget counseling, transportation to view units, expedited housing inspections, workshops on landlord-tenant law, and post-move support. The authors find that voucher holders who enroll in HOP and receive mobility services are significantly more likely to move to opportunity neighborhoods. Vulnerable households, large families, black households and public housing relocatees are less likely to move to opportunity neighborhoods. [View the corresponding press release ]


Cyber-physical systems are increasingly threatened by sophisticated attackers, also attacking the physical aspect of systems. Supplementing protective measures, industrial intrusion detection systems promise to detect such attacks. However, due to industrial protocol diversity and lack of standard interfaces, great efforts are required to adapt these technologies to a large number of different protocols. To address this issue, we identify existing universally applicable intrusion detection approaches and propose a transcription for industrial protocols to realize protocol-independent semantic intrusion detection on top of different industrial protocols.


Single image depth prediction is a challenging task due to its ill-posed nature and challenges with capturing ground truth for supervision. Large-scale disparity data generated from stereo photos and 3D videos is a promising source of supervision, however, such disparity data can only approximate the inverse ground truth depth up to an affine transformation. To more effectively learn from such pseudo-depth data, we propose to use a simple pair-wise ranking loss with a novel sampling strategy. Instead of randomly sampling point pairs, we guide the sampling to better characterize structure of important regions based on the low-level edge maps and high-level object instance masks. We show that the pair-wise ranking loss, combined with our structure-guided sampling strategies, can significantly improve the quality of depth map prediction. In addition, we introduce a new relative depth dataset of about 21K diverse high-resolution web stereo photos to enhance the generalization ability of our model. In experiments, we conduct cross-dataset evaluation on six benchmark datasets and show that our method consistently improves over the baselines, leading to superior quantitative and qualitative results.


ABSTRACT Internet voice and video calling have demonstrated a dramatic rise in quality in the past several years and have quickly become communication technologies with a disruptive impact on society. Librarians, who regularly adopt such technologies in outreach and public services, should evaluate Web-calling programs as potential sources of innovative reference programming. This article describes the development of Skype video and Internet telephony pilot reference services at the Ohio University Libraries and considers the utility of Skype and VoIP in a library setting.


Overweight and obesity have become a global concern and estimated with more than 1.9 billion adults worldwide were overweight and more than 650 million were obese in 2016. Nurses in Malaysia were no exception to overweight and obesity. This research was conducted with the aim to identify the prevalence of overweight among nurses on shift duty in a teaching hospital and to understand the relationship between abnormal eating behavior and body mass index. A total of 280 respondents participated in this research and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire was used. Body Mass Index (BMI) score was categorized according to Clinical Practice Guidelines 2004. Results showed that 68.5% of the nurses were either overweight (37.1%) or obese (31.4%). The nurses' BMI does not showed any association with socio-demographic data except age (r=0.156). As age increases, the nurses' BMI also increase. This research also showed that there was no association between emotional and external eating behavior to BMI. However, there was a statistically significant differences in BMI for restraint eating (F=6.056, p=0.003). In conclusion, restraint eating behavior was the most practiced form of eating behavior in an attempt to achieve the ideal body weight but unfortunately lead to overweight among the nurses. Overweight or obese nurses will have a negative impression to the society and even reduce their confidence towards nurses' health education. Overweight or obesity also ruined the nurses' working performance and quality of care for patients. This issue requires immediate action and interventions to promote healthy lifestyles and eating habits among nurses should be conducted in the hospital.


The present paper aims at revealing the formation mechanism of craters on the surface of metals produced by the bombardment of a high-current pulsed electron beam. Based on experimental investigations and a physical model, the temperature field and melting process are simulated for Al and two kinds of steels. The star ting melting positions, largest crater depths, and melting layer thicknesses are obtained, which agree satisfactorily with experimentally observed values. It is confirmed that temperature rises faster at a sublayer instead of on the extreme surface due to the maximum energy deposition located at about 1/3 of the total penetration depth of the beam. Such a special sublayer heating and melting mode causes eruptions of the sublayer liquid through the outer surface and produces t he typical surface crater morphology.


Tetracarboxylic Zn( ii ) phthalocyanine–amino functionalized graphene oxide (ZnPcC_4–NGO) hybrid materials have been prepared by a covalent functionalization method. The characterizations indicate that the amino-functionalization of GO has an important influence on the structure and photophysical properties of the ZnPcC_4–NGO hybrid. The ZnPcC_4–NGO hybrid exhibits enhanced photo-induced electron transfer or energy transfer (PET/ET), compared to the ZnPcC_4 covalent functionalized GO (ZnPcC_4–GO), owing to the presence of the extended sp^2 carbon configurations, along with the partial reduction of the NGO nanosheets and the introduction of electron-donating ethylenediamine. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the hybrids were investigated using the Z -scan technique at 532 nm with 4 ns laser pulses. The results show that the efficient covalent functionalization and partial reduction of NGO cause the ZnPcC_4–NGO hybrid to possess evidently larger NLO properties than the individual NGO, ZnPcC_4 and the ZnPcC_4–GO hybrid. The enhanced NLO performance can be attributed to the increased excited state absorption from the extended sp^2 carbon configurations of the NGO moiety, reverse saturable absorption arising from ZnPcC_4 moiety, and the contribution of the efficient PET/ET process between the ZnPcC_4 and NGO moieties in the hybrid.


The Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) has been studied since the 1970s, a time frame that coincides with the advent of isotopic techniques in Brazil. The GAS isotope data from many studies are organized in different phases: (a) the advent of isotope techniques, (b) consolidation and new applications, (c) isotope assessments and hydrochemistry evolution, and (d) a roadmap to a new conceptual model. The reasons behind the phases, their methodological approaches, and impacts on the regional flow conceptual models are examined. Starting with local δ2H and δ18O assessments of values for water fingerprinting and estimates of recharge palaeoclimate scenarios, studies evolved to more integrated approaches based on multiple tracers. Stable isotope application techniques were consolidated during the 1980s, when new dating approaches dealing with radiogenic and heavy isotopes were introduced. Through the execution of an international transboundary project, the GAS was studied and extensively sampled for isotopes. These results have triggered wider application of isotope techniques, reflecting also world research trends. Presently, hydrochemical evolution models along flow lines from recharge to discharge areas, across large‐scale tectonic features within the entire sedimentary basin, are being combined with residence time estimates at GAS outcrop areas and deep confined units. In a complex system, it is normal that many, and even contradictory hypotheses are proposed, but isotope techniques provide a unique chance to test them. Stable isotope assessments are still needed near recharge areas, and they can be combined with groundwater classical dating procedures, complemented by newer techniques (3H‐3He, CFCs, and SF6). Recent noble gas sampling and world pioneer analytical efforts focused on the confined units in the GAS will certainly led to new findings on the overall GAS circulation. The objective of this article is to discuss how isotope information can contribute to the evolution of conceptual groundwater flow models for regional continental aquifers, such as the GAS.


The cyano-complexes [Ru(η5-C5H5)L2(CN)][(1) L = PPh3 and (2) L2= dppe (Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)] react with the corresponding chlorides (3) and (4) and with [Fe(η5-C5H5)(dppe)Br](9) to give the diruthenium cyano-bridged cations [(η5-C5H5)L2Ru(µ-CN)RuL′2(η5-C5H5)]+[L = L′= PPh3(5); L = PPh3, L′2= dppe (6); L2= dppe, L′= PPh3(7); L2= L′2= dppe (8)] and the mixed iron–ruthenium cation [(η5-C5H5)(dppe)Ru(µ-CN)Fe(dppe)(η5-C5H5)]+. An X-ray crystal structure of complex (7) shows the Ru–CN–Ru bridge to be essentially linear. Hydride reduction of these cyano-bridged cations results in the breakage of the metal-nitrogen bond to regenerate the original cyano-complexes (1) and (2) together with the required hydrido-complexes [M(η5-C5H5)(dppe)H][M = Ru (11) or Fe (12)] or [Ru(η5-C5H5)(PPh3)2H](13). For those reductions giving (13), the novel ruthenium trihydride [Ru(η5-C5H5)(PPh3)H3](14) was also isolated. Reduction of chloride (3) with sodium methoxide exclusively gave the monohydride (13), whereas reduction with lithium aluminium hydride in tetrahydrofuran gave a 1 : 4 mixture of the monohydride (13) and the trihydride (14). The mechanism for the formation of the trihydride (14) is discussed.


Significance Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) is a group of neurological disorders that affect the brain development. Homozygous mutations of TBC1D23, which encodes a protein functioning in endosome-to-Golgi trafficking in cells, have been found in patients diagnosed with PCH. However, it remains to be determined whether defects in the TBC1D23-mediated endosomal trafficking pathway are responsible for the pathogenesis of PCH. We present the crystal structure of TBC1D23 C-terminal domain (D23C), which is missing in some PCH patients. D23C selectively binds to phosphoinositides using one surface, and interacts with endosomal protein FAM21, via the opposite surface. Using cellular and zebrafish models, we demonstrate a strong correlation between endosomal trafficking and physiological functions of TBC1D23, and suggest an interesting mechanism for the pathogenesis of PCH. Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) is a group of neurological disorders that affect the development of the brain, in particular, the pons and cerebellum. Homozygous mutations of TBC1D23 have been found recently to lead to PCH; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that the crystal structure of the TBC1D23 C-terminal domain adopts a Pleckstrin homology domain fold and selectively binds to phosphoinositides, in particular, PtdIns(4)P, through one surface while binding FAM21 via the opposite surface. Mutation of key residues of TBC1D23 or FAM21 selectively disrupts the endosomal vesicular trafficking toward the Trans-Golgi Network. Finally, using the zebrafish model, we show that PCH patient-derived mutants, impacting either phosphoinositide binding or FAM21 binding, lead to abnormal neuronal growth and brain development. Taken together, our data provide a molecular basis for the interaction between TBC1D23 and FAM21, and suggest a plausible role for PtdIns(4)P in the TBC1D23-mediating endosome-to-TGN trafficking pathway. Defects in this trafficking pathway are, at least partially, responsible for the pathogenesis of certain types of PCH.


: The oligomer chromatin fragments relatively uniform in size (8--11 nucleosomes) were prepared by a short-term endonycleolysis. The heterogeneity of these fragments with respect to their electrophoretic mobility was revealed using free flow electrophoresis. The individual fragmentated chromatin subfractions were obtained. These subfractions differed in their protein and RNA content per DNA weight unit, in quantitative ratios of different zones of high molecular weight non-histone proteins and in thermal and alkaline denaturation kinetics. It was also found that the parameters investigated are correlated with electronegativeity of the fragmentated chromatin subfractions.


Concentrations of defensins-alpha, lipoprotein(α), C-reactive protein, proBNP, VII- coagulation factor and von Wilebrandt factor were measured in supernatants of 3-day leukocyte cultures enriched with neutrophils in order to estimate their synthesis in patients with stable angina and atherosclerosis of lower extremities. In addition, in vitro tumor necrosis factor-alpha test was performed. Simultaneously, concentrations of serum interleukine-6, -8, defensins-alpha, C-reactive protein, proBNP, VII-coagulation factor were determined. Neutrophil protein synthesis was impaired in the patients with stable angina. The same was true of defensins-alpha synthesis whereas production of lipoproteins, pro-BNP, C-reactive proteins, IL-8, and von Wilebrandt factor increased. Pathogenetic role of TNF-alpha was demonstrated.


Principal reduction modifications are a cornerstone of the preliminary term sheet released by the State Attorneys General in March 2011.As a result, there has been increased attention to the success of these modification programs and the attendant moral hazard issues. In this article, the authors make a case for principal reductions, arguing that because negative equity drives defaults, principal reduction is the most successful type of modification. They offer some suggestions on better aligning incentives to minimize the strategic default issue. They also present evidence that it is very dangerous to not do these modifications and hence exacerbate the vicious home price depreciation/negative equity cycle.


Subject area

Strategic Marketing, Marketing Management, Services Marketing.

Study level/applicability

MBA and Executive MBA.

Case overview

The case talks about the inception and growth of OYO Rooms, a company that originally started as ORAVEL Stays Ltd. in 2012, as a platform for booking budget and premium accommodations, but graduated to become OYO Rooms, an online aggregator of hotels, with a unique business model of "managing the partial inventory of rooms" in hotels and offering a proposition of affordable, consistent, quality experience to business, leisure and pilgrim travellers. The company received rounds of funding from Greenoaks Capital, Lightspeed Ventures, Sequoia Capital and DSG Consumer Partners. Moreover, unlike its competitors, OYO adapted itself to the fast-changing consumer preference and grew at an enviable pace and by 2016, was present across 190 cities through a network of 6,500 hotels. However, OYO Rooms had to face a multitude of challenges both from the consumer and hotel owners' ends, primarily service quality concerns from the customers and majorly concerns out of payment irregularities or non-abidance to written contracts from the hoteliers' end. The dissatisfaction levels increased to an extent that experts started raising questions on the viability of the business. OYO was growing at an aggressive rate but breakeven point was yet to be achieved. Moreover, growing dissatisfaction and switching amongst its customers as well as hoteliers threatened the very existence of the model. The case allows the students to critically analyse the strategies of OYO for deliberation on whether the business model was sustainable in the long run. It also encourages the students to deliberate on the possible growth strategies for OYO as also on the service recovery strategies for OYO.

Expected learning outcomes

The case has been positioned around the following modules: industry analysis; value of a two-sided business model to both parties; sustainability of a unique business model, against the challenges that it faces; applying the VRIO framework (resource-based view); complaint handling and service recovery strategies; applying the Ansoff's grid for possible growth options.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email firstname.lastname@example.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.


Purpose

This study aims to determine whether financial statement users suffered a significant loss of information when, in November 2007, the SEC dropped the requirement for foreign private issuers using International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS firms") to reconcile their financial statements to US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigates whether analyst forecast errors and forecast dispersion increased for IFRS firms to a greater extent than for US GAAP firms after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped the reconciliation requirement. Using a treatment group comprised of IFRS firms and a matched sample of US GAAP firms, this study uses regression analyses to compare forecast errors and dispersion for the last fiscal year the reconciliation was available and the first fiscal year during which the reconciliation was unavailable to analysts.

Findings

The study finds evidence that forecast errors for IFRS firms exhibited no systematic change after the reconciliation was no longer available for analysts covering those firms. Thus, it does not appear that dropping the reconciliation requirement was associated with a change in forecast accuracy. However, the study does find evidence of increased dispersion in the IFRS firms' forecasts relative to their US GAAP counterparts after the reconciliation requirement was dropped.

Practical implications

These findings have implications for evaluating the Securities and Exchange Commission's 2007 decision to eliminate the reconciliation for IFRS firms. Specifically, the Securities and Exchange Commission's decision does not appear to have significantly altered analysts' information environments.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of how a group of sophisticated financial statement users adapt to different sets of accounting standards.


Current implementations of automated driving rely on the driver to monitor the vehicle and be ready to assume control in situations that the automation cannot successfully manage. However, research has shown that drivers are not able to monitor an automated vehicle for longer periods of time, as the monotonous monitoring task leads to attention reallocation or fatigue. Driver involvement in the automated driving task promises to counter this effect. The authors researched how the implementation of a haptic human–vehicle interface, which allows the driver to adjust driving parameters and initiate manoeuvres, influences the subjective experience of drivers in automated vehicles. In a simulator study, they varied the level of control that drivers have over the vehicle, between manual driving, automated driving without the possibility to adjust the automation, as well as automated driving with the possibility to initiate manoeuvres and adjust driving parameters of the vehicle. Results show that drivers have a higher level of perceived control and perceived level of responsibility when they have the ability to interact with the automated vehicle through the haptic interface. The authors conclude that the possibility to interact with automated vehicles can be beneficial for driver experience and safety.


Improving the quality of care in hospitals is a key priority within national dementia strategies. The impact of dementia training on multiple aspects of staff outcomes has seldom been evaluated, especially with regards to understanding the relationship between key interrelated factors within a hospital; e.g., dementia knowledge, staff attitudes, staff strain, organisational culture. We conducted a staff survey to explore the extent of training, knowledge, attitudes, staff strain, organisational culture and satisfaction in caring for people living with dementia in acute National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. We used a range of validated tools, i.e. Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool V2, Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff scale, Culture of Care Barometer, Maslach Burnout Inventory. We identified and approached 24 randomly selected hospitals, based on low, 'average' or high scores in each of the domains of governance, patient-related outcomes and training, derived from 2016 National Audit of Dementia Organisational Checklist data. We recruited 11 hospitals (46%response rate) and 294 staff (average: 27 staff per hospital). The sample consisted of Nurses and Midwives (29.9%), Health Care Assistants (26.9%), Allied Health Professionals (16.0%), Medical and Dental doctors (11.6%), Support Staff and members of the wider health team (11.2%), general management (4.1%), and other (0.3%). This presentation covers the complex relationship between staff knowledge, attitudes, staff strain and organisational culture among acute NHS hospital staff, with a focus on dementia training. We will be presenting the results of a mixed effect model, which was adjusted for a range of staff related factors. Our findings indicate that the impact of dementia training on staff's sense of competence in dementia care is limited, when we take into account staff demographics (including their professional background), and organisational culture. Our findings emphasise the need for broader practice and policy changes to support dementia training for hospital staff.


Objective. To evaluate the Plasmodium falciparum CTL epitope vaccines in HLA class I allele specific human cell lines that have high frequency among Chinese population. Methods. Synthesized oligonucleotides encoding for P.f. CTL epitope genes, constructed eukaryotic expression plasmids, transfected the minigenes into HLA class I allele specific human cell lines and identified endogenous expressing of the minigenes by RT-PCR and HLA stabilization assay. Results. Two mini-genes encoding Plasmedium falciparum CTL epitopes were designed and cloned, respectively, into an eukaryotic expressing vector to form TR26 which was restricted to HLA-B51,SH6 which was restrictedto HLA-A2.1, and TS, which had the two aforementioned mini-genes fused in tandem. All of these CTL epitope genes were transfected and endogenously expressed in respective cell lines containing appropriate HLA molecules.The obviously increased expressions of HLA class I molecules were detected in the transfected cell lines. It was demonstrated that the two discrete Plasmedium falciparum epitope genes were effectively processed and presented, and the close proximity of the two epitope genes in one chain as in mini-gene TS did not interfere with the process-ing and presenting of each epitope gene in corresponding cell line. Conclusion. A successful expression and presentation of multiple CTL epitope mini-gene in MHC class I allele specific human cell lines were demonstrated by an in vitro assay, which could be corresponding to the vaccina-tion of CTL vaccines in people with different MHC I molecules. This work also suggested the possibility of constructing a multiple CI~ epitope plasmodium falciparum DNA vaccine that could cover most of Chinese population.


Brucellosis is the most common zoonotic disease worldwide, and there is no vaccine for human use. Brucella melitensis Rev1, a live attenuated strain, is the commercial vaccine for small ruminants to prevent B. melitensis infections but has been associated with abortions in animals. Moreover, strain Rev1 is known to cause disease in humans and cannot be used for human vaccination. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) obtained from B. melitensis have been shown to provide protection similar to strain Rev1 in mice against B. melitensis challenge. In the present work, we tested the efficacy of Pluronic P85 as an adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of Brucella OMVs as a vaccine. P85 enhanced the in vitro secretion of TNF-α by macrophages induced with OMVs and P85. Further, P85 enhanced the protection provided by OMVs against B. melitensis challenge. This enhanced protection was associated with higher total IgG antibody production but not increased IFN-γ or IL-4 cytokine levels. Moreover, P85 alone provided significantly better clearance of B. melitensis compared to saline-vaccinated mice. Further studies are warranted to find the mechanism of action of P85 that provides nonspecific protection and enhances the efficacy of OMVs as a vaccine against B. melitensis.


We consider long-term path forecasting problems in crowds, where future sequence trajectories are generated given a short observation. Recent methods for this problem have focused on modeling social interactions and predicting multi-modal futures. However, it is not easy for machines to successfully consider social interactions, such as avoiding collisions while considering the uncertainty of futures under a highly interactive and dynamic scenario. In this paper, we propose a model that incorporates multiple interacting motion sequences jointly and predicts multi-modal socially acceptable distributions of futures. Specifically, we introduce a new aggregation mechanism for social interactions, which selectively models long-term inter-related dynamics between movements in a shared environment through a message passing mechanism. Moreover, we propose a loss function that not only accesses how accurate the estimated distributions of the futures are but also considers collision avoidance. We further utilize mixture density functions to describe the trajectories and learn the multi-modality of future paths. Extensive experiments over several trajectory prediction benchmarks demonstrate that our method is able to forecast socially acceptable distributions in complex scenarios.


Researched on the low carbon steel by mineral component ore phase structure of mould powder and its slag film under optical microscope. The result shows that the glass phase, quartz, and pyroxene in the mould powder helped to the slag film turn into glass. The melilite and wollastonite in the mould powder can promote the formation of melilite, and wollastonite can promote the formation of cuspidine in the slag film. The structure of the slag film is even and the main structure is glass phrase, the rate of crystallization is low, the crystallized mineralogical phases was melilite, the cuspidine did not appeared, which is good for lubrication. The content of glass phase, quartz and pyroxene in the mould powder of the low carbon steel should be increased, the content of wollastonite and fluorite should be reduced.


The hybrid lattice, known as a discrete Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, is found to be a discrete modified Korteweg-de Vries (mKdV) equation in this paper. The coupled hybrid lattice, which is pointed to be a discrete coupled KdV system, is also found to be discrete form of a coupled mKdV systems. Delayed differential reduction system and pure difference systems are derived from the coupled hybrid system by means of the symmetry reduction approach. Cnoidal wave, positon and negaton solutions for the coupled hybrid system are proposed.


With the increasing use of ion-selective electrodes in environmental and health applications, it is important to know the precision of estimated concentrations. A Bayesian model for non-linear calibration is introduced which provides estimates of measurement precision by incorporating uncertainty in calibration parameters and inherent random noise in emf response. The analysis of lead in 17 soil samples demonstrates that large gains in precision are possible when calibrations are extended to include multiple electrodes and standard addition data. The results highlight the need for improved calibration and routine use of standard addition as ion selective electrodes become increasingly popular for demanding, real world applications.


This introductory discussion positions midscale food value chains as business models for a "third tier" in the U. S. food system, distinct from direct marketing to local consumers and global marketing of agricultural commodities. Responding to a growing demand for food that is differentiated from conventional products, midscale food value chains are developing strategic business alliances among small and medium sized farms or ranches and other agri-food enterprises. These supply chain alliances: (a) handle significant volumes of high-quality, differentiated food products; (b) operate effectively at regional, multistate levels; and (c) distribute profits equitably among the strategic partners. Value chain business models place emphasis on both the values associated with the food and the values associated with the business relationships within the food supply chain. Farmers and ranchers are treated as strategic partners, not as interchangeable input suppliers. Midscale food value chains employ two distinct, multifarm marketing strategies: direct-to-wholesale and direct-to-consumer. Both marketing strategies are based on organizational structures that achieve the necessary volumes of high-quality, differentiated food by aggregating product from multiple farms or ranches. The introduction concludes with a discussion of the challenges associated with developing successful midscale food value chains and of needed research and public policies to support the growth of this third tier.


The maps from loop suspensions to loop spaces are investigated using group representations in this article. The shuffle relations on the Cohen groups are given. By using these relations, a universal ring for functorial self maps of double loop spaces of double suspensions is given. Moreover the obstructions to the classical exponent problem in homotopy theory are displayed in the extension groups of the dual of the important symmetric group modules Lie(n), as well as in the top cohomology of the Artin braid groups with coefficients in the top homology of the Artin pure braid groups.


Background and Purpose— The majority of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of stroke have focused on European-ancestry populations; however, none has been conducted in African Americans, despite the disproportionately high burden of stroke in this population. The Consortium of Minority Population Genome-Wide Association Studies of Stroke (COMPASS) was established to identify stroke susceptibility loci in minority populations. Methods— Using METAL, we conducted meta-analyses of GWAS in 14 746 African Americans (1365 ischemic and 1592 total stroke cases) from COMPASS, and tested genetic variants with P<10−6 for validation in METASTROKE, a consortium of ischemic stroke genetic studies in European-ancestry populations. We also evaluated stroke loci previously identified in European-ancestry populations. Results— The 15q21.3 locus linked with lipid levels and hypertension was associated with total stroke (rs4471613; P=3.9×10−8) in African Americans. Nominal associations (P<10−6) for total or ischemic stroke were observed for 18 variants in or near genes implicated in cell cycle/mRNA presplicing (PTPRG, CDC5L), platelet function (HPS4), blood–brain barrier permeability (CLDN17), immune response (ELTD1, WDFY4, and IL1F10-IL1RN), and histone modification (HDAC9). Two of these loci achieved nominal significance in METASTROKE: 5q35.2 (P=0.03), and 1p31.1 (P=0.018). Four of 7 previously reported ischemic stroke loci (PITX2, HDAC9, CDKN2A/CDKN2B, and ZFHX3) were nominally associated (P<0.05) with stroke in COMPASS. Conclusions— We identified a novel genetic variant associated with total stroke in African Americans and found that ischemic stroke loci identified in European-ancestry populations may also be relevant for African Americans. Our findings support investigation of diverse populations to identify and characterize genetic risk factors, and the importance of shared genetic risk across populations.


ABSTRACT Indicator minerals are known for many types of base metal deposits but the high temperatures and pressures associated with magmatism and prograde metamorphism are needed to raise mineral density and grain size in order to produce diverse and abundant indicators. Therefore those base metal deposits that are associated with very large magmatic-hydrothermal systems have the most viable indicator mineral suites, in some cases sufficient to produce anomalies in surficial sediments comparable to the regional-scale anomalies associated with kimberlite fields. Two deposits of this type are Ni-Cu-PGE and porphyry Cu. Most sulphide mineral grains dispersed from these deposits are quickly degraded by weathering, increasing the dependence on more stable alteration minerals. The significance and properties of these minerals are described and examples of anomalies are shown for Ni-Cu-PGE indicator minerals in glacial till and post-glacial gravel in Canada and for porphyry Cu indicator minerals in nonglacial sheet wash gravel in Chile.


Exporting northwest Arkansas excess turkey and broiler litter to partially fertilize nutrient-deficient cropland in eastern Arkansas can be more cost effective than to supply all crop nutrients with chemical fertilizer only, given current high fertilizer prices. Cost savings are greater if litter is baled in ultraviolet resistant plastic and transported via truck, since backhaul opportunities reduce truck rates, or alternatively, if raw litter is shipped via a truck-barge combination. Rice is the crop that allows for greater savings according to a mathematical programming model implemented in General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS).


In this paper, we present a new algorithm that integrates recent advances in solving continuous bandit problems with sample-based rollout methods for planning in Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). Our algorithm, Hierarchical Optimistic Optimization applied to Trees (HOOT) addresses planning in continuous-action MDPs. Empirical results are given that show that the performance of our algorithm meets or exceeds that of a similar discrete action planner by eliminating the problem of manual discretization of the action space.


This paper1 considers the outage performance of multiple relays transmission in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Relaying has been suggested in general to improve the reliability of wireless systems significantly and is therefore a candidate for wireless industrial communication systems that need to meet tough latency and outage requirements. Different from previous works, this paper takes synchronization mismatch of hardware processing time at multiple relays into account and characterizes the performance impact of such asynchronous relays on the reliability of the system. We focus especially on the case where the transceivers do not have instantaneous channel state information but still need to fullfill tough reliability and latency constraints. We find that with respect to this scenario the synchronization mismatch can lead to a significant loss of reliability even if the individual mismatch of relays is relatively small compared to the cyclic prefix of the OFDM symbol. Consequently, this paper devises countermeasures to efficiently combat the synchronization issues either by introducing a longer cyclic prefix or by decreasing/adjusting the number of active relays. We find that all proposed countermeasures have their application domains which are determined by the average SNR and the severity of synchronization errors.


Stigma is a prejudice (negative attitude) based on stereotypes usually leading to discrimination. Familiar mental illness stereotypes (weak, violent, comic) drive prejudice in society. Discrimination ranges from simple avoidance through exit life events (relationship, employment and housing losses) and institutional discrimination (denial of health interventions, insurance, jury service, visa inter alia). Stigmadiscrimination cannot occur without a power differential. When a person with mental health problems shares societal prejudices, their self-stigma contributes to further morbidity and status loss. Reducing stigma requires multiple interventions: a language of inclusion (no more 'schizophrenics'), legal and organisational reforms, and cultural changes based on empowerment.


This paper presents a nonlinear control strategy based on variable gain super-twisting algorithm (VGSTA) assisted with a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) to maximize the extracted power of a wind energy conversion system (WECS). The studied system in this paper is composed by: a wind turbine, a permanent magnet synchronous generator, a controlled bridge rectifier connected to a permanent-magnet DC motor used to drive a centrifugal pump. Unlike the most studied standalone wind energy conversion systems in literature, that use a resistive load, this work consider a nonlinear load represented by a motor-pump group. The proposed Field Oriented Control (FOC) based on Fuzzy-Variable Gain Super Twisting Algorithm, allows dealing with the non-linearity of the wind turbine and load characteristics, adding to that the different perturbations and disturbances that such system can occurs. The obtained results show high tracking performances with very small error, without chattering phenomenon and a high stability and robustness against wind speed change.


Objective Determining metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence amongst employees from a steel company in Distrito Federal according to age and ethnic-racial classification, comparing biochemical, anthropometric and hemodynamic indicators according to MS presence or absence. Methods A total of 125 men (aged 20-69) participated in the study. Data was collected regarding age, ethnic origin, body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results MS prevalence was 28 %. Subjects suffering from MS presented higher triglyceride levels, had greater BMI, waist circumference, SBP and DBP and lower HDL-c. Increased MS frequency was observed with age, having higher frequency (45.9 %) amongst subjects aged more than 40.


A significant improvement (40–60%) was reported in the low voltage (100–1000V) cathodoluminescence efficiency of ZnS phosphors coated with SiO_2 by the sol-gel technique. The properties of the coatings were found to be critically dependent upon the precursor concentration, pH value and the temperature of the solution with optimum performance being obtained for a SiO_2 concentration of 1.0 wt%, pH values between 7–9, and a solution temperature of 83 °C. The efficiency curves exhibited a characteristic voltage dependence which was analyzed by a one-dimensional numerical model. Enhanced low voltage efficiency was attributed to a reduction of surface recombination and the actual shape of the efficiency curve was determined by the interplay between the reduction of surface recombination and energy losses in the SiO_2 coating.