Objective: The Janssen Autism Knowledge Engine (JAKE®) is a clinical research outcomes assessment system developed to more sensitively measure treatment outcomes and identify subpopulations in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Here we describe JAKE and present results from its digital phenotyping (My JAKE) and biosensor (JAKE Sense) components. Methods: An observational, non-interventional, prospective study of JAKE in children and adults with ASD was conducted at nine sites in the United States. Feedback on JAKE usability was obtained from caregivers. JAKE Sense included electroencephalography, eye tracking, electrocardiography, electrodermal activity, facial affect analysis, and actigraphy. Caregivers of individuals with ASD reported behaviors using My JAKE. Results from My JAKE and JAKE Sense were compared to traditional ASD symptom measures. Results: Individuals with ASD (N = 144) and a cohort of typically developing (TD) individuals (N = 41) participated in JAKE Sense. Most caregivers reported that overall use and utility of My JAKE was "easy" (69%, 74/108) or "very easy" (74%, 80/108). My JAKE could detect differences in ASD symptoms as measured by traditional methods. The majority of biosensors included in JAKE Sense captured sizable amounts of quality data (i.e., 93–100% of eye tracker, facial affect analysis, and electrocardiogram data was of good quality), demonstrated differences between TD and ASD individuals, and correlated with ASD symptom scales. No significant safety events were reported. Conclusions: My JAKE was viewed as easy or very easy to use by caregivers participating in research outside of a clinical study. My JAKE sensitively measured a broad range of ASD symptoms. JAKE Sense biosensors were well-tolerated. JAKE functioned well when used at clinical sites previously inexperienced with some of the technologies. Lessons from the study will optimize JAKE for use in clinical trials to assess ASD interventions. Additionally, because biosensors were able to detect features differentiating TD and ASD individuals, and also were correlated with standardized symptom scales, these measures could be explored as potential biomarkers for ASD and as endpoints in future clinical studies. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02668991 identifier: NCT02668991


During the nineties, translation memory (TM) technology revolutionised the way corporations and translators handled specialised text. Last year, 2004, the TM industry leader and de facto standard Trados turned 20. This article examines Trados' contribution to the development of TM and its current hold on the translation and globalisation markets as reflected by information gathered from the websites of Trados and its major competitors, plus expert opinion from professional publications and practitioner views from discussion lists. It then argues that, while Trados seems to have a firm grip on the lead, the push for Translation Memory eXchange (TMX) and new approaches for the reuse of text at the phrase level may tilt the balance. Finally, it ponders the capacity of freelance translators – the mainstay of the industry – to keep pace with the evolution of the new translation paradigm.


We describe studies in mechanochemical transduction that probe the activation of bonds orthogonal to an elongated polymer main chain. Compression of mechanophore-cross-linked materials resulted in the release of small molecules via cleavage of covalent bonds that were not integral components of the elongated polymer segments. The reactivity is proposed to arise from the distribution of force through the cross-linking units of the polymer network and subsequent bond bending motions that are consistent with the geometric changes in the overall reaction. This departure from contemporary polymer mechanochemistry, in which activation is achieved primarily by force-induced bond elongation, is a first step toward mechanophores capable of releasing side-chain functionalities without inherently compromising the overall macromolecular architecture.


MTHFR encodes a critical enzyme in folate and homocysteine metabolism and the C677T allele of the MTHFR gene has some association with an increased risk for neural-tube defects and for adult cardiovascular diseases. As part of an international collaborative study the prevalence of C677T homozygous genotype was 11.1% while the frequency of C677T heterozygous condition was 45.2% in the Hungarian neonate sample. These findings underscore the clinical importance of the C677T variant in the Hungarian population and urge population-based prevention of conditions related to such gene.


Dense wavelength division multiplexing technology has been introduced to transmit multiple information streams simultaneously over a single fiber at a data rate as high as the fiber plant allows (2.4 Gbps). For this an algorithm has been developed on a transmission network of an end-to-end unidirectional system. The system supports SONET/SDH sort-reach optical interface to which any client compliant device can be attached. The algorithm has been implemented by using C++ language. The frequency bandwidth has been selected in the range of C to V band, as designated by ITU grid. In the end-to-end unidirectional based DWDM system, the transponder accepts input in the form of a standard single-mode or multimode laser. These wavelengths have been mapped to a DWDM wavelength which has been multiplexed into a single optical signal and launched into the fiber. A preamplifier should be used before it enters the end system. The incoming signal is demultiplexed into individual DWDM lambdas (or wavelengths).


Laboratory animals are fundamental to study immunological aspects and the efficacy of new drugs to treat leishmaniasis. However, we do not have practical and good animal models to study leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis - L(V)b. In this study, thirty-two experimental animals (Cavia porcellus) were injected in the hind foot with 3x105 promastigote forms of L(V)b. The animals were followed for eight weeks. None of the experimental animals developed lesions or presented the parasite in any of the tests performed (histopathological exam, smears, culture, inoculation in hamsters, and polymerase chain reaction).


Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are an emerging class of electrolytes for supercapacitors. We investigate the effects of ion size and electrode curvature on the electrical double layers (EDLs) in two ILs 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF(6)], using a combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum density functional theory (DFT) simulations. The sizes of the counter-ion and co-ion affect the ion distribution and orientational structure of EDLs. The EDL capacitances near both planar and cylindrical electrodes were found to follow the order: [BMIM][Cl] (near the positive electrode) > [BMIM][PF(6)] (near the positive electrode) ≈ [BMIM][Cl] (near the negative electrode) ≈ [BMIM][PF(6)] (near the negative electrode). The EDL capacitance was also found to increase as the electrode curvature increases. These capacitance data can be fit to the Helmholtz model and the recently proposed exohedral electrical double-cylinder capacitor (xEDCC) model when the EDL thickness is properly parameterized, even though key features of the EDLs in ILs are not accounted for in these models. To remedy the shortcomings of existing models, we propose a "Multiple Ion Layers with Overscreening" (MILO) model for the EDLs in ILs that takes into account two critical features of such EDLs, i.e., alternating layering of counter-ions and co-ions and charge overscreening. The capacitance computed from the MILO model agrees well with the MD prediction. Although some input parameters of the MILO model must be obtained from MD simulations, the MILO model may provide a new framework for understanding many important aspects of EDLs in ILs (e.g., the variation of EDL capacitance with the electrode potential) that are difficult to interpret using classical EDL models and experiments.


From Tahrir Square to Wall Street, from Athens to Montreal, dreams of emancipation are mobilizing a new wave of revolts all over the world. Simultaneously the forces of repression are being unleashed everywhere to impose "new mechanisms of social control" with the aim of establishing "new conditions for achieving surplus value" in the aftermath of a protracted capitalist economic crisis.1 Some anticipated a Chinese popular uprising following the Arab Spring. Instead, since spring 2012 the world has seen a sensational drama of elite struggle surrounding the ousting of the Chongqing head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Politburo member Bo Xilai, including a crackdown on his Chongqing Model of development. Even though the CCP has been able to contain large-scale social unrest, divisions amongst the elite became a focal point of political struggle during this dangerous year of power transition in China. [T] This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website , where most recent articles are published in full. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.


We propose a distributed solution for the group mutual exclusion problem based on priorities, in a network with no share memory whose members only communicate by messages. The proposed algorithm is composed by two players: groups and processes, groups are passive players while processes are active players. For the coordination access to the resource, each group has assigned a quorum. The groups have associated a base priority in each stage, meanwhile the processes have the same level priority. An important feature is that processes have associated a time to participate in the group in each stage. The message complexity obtain, in the best case, where the group does not yield the permission, is 3l + 3(q - 1) messages, where l denotes the processes linked and q denotes the quorum size. The maximum concurrency of the algorithm is n, which implies that all processes have linked to the same group.


Tricolor variety of guinea-pigs, two or three months old, received, without sex distinction L(+)-ascorbic or L(+)-dehydroascorbic acids intraperitoneally injections as 20 mg p. 100 by weight, three or twenty-four hours after starting a forty-eight hours fast. Ascorbic, dehydroascorbic and 2,3 diceto-L-gulonic acids are estimated by the Roe, Mills, Oesterling and Damron differential 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazin method in whole blood, urines, kidneys and liver. Food absorption during twenty-four hours after the end of the forty-eight hours fast is not suffisant for guinea-pigs regain first state, during this time, especially in their kidneys and liver. Three hours after the beginning of the fast, urinary excretion of the injected acid increases during the first twenty-four hours of fast; at the end of the forty-eight hours fast their kidneys are deficient in ascorbic acid. Twenty-four hours after the beginning of fast, urinary excretion of ascorbic, dehydroascorbic and 2,3-diceto-L-gulonic acids rises importantly, especially when L-ascorbic acid is injected; it is only the quantity of ascorbic acid which increases in their kidneys and liver, its level being higher in their liver. L-dehydroascorbic acid is utilized immediately. L-ascorbic acid is distributed slowly, stored in a reduced form and it prepares the animals to face a prolonged fast. When the animals are injected three hours after the fast begins, it will be protected for forty-eight hours; if it is injected twenty-four hours after the beginning of fast, the animal will be better prepared to face a prolonged state of stress or a fast lasting more than forty-eight hours.


In the United States, the population of students classified as English Language Learners (ELLs) in K-12 education has increased in recent decades. As a result, teachers outside of specialized linguistic courses have needed to adapt their instruction to better meet the needs of these students. This exploratory study investigates potential indicators of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers' preparedness to work with ELLs, in comparison with the rates of ELLs in STEM courses.

Data for this study were obtained from the national restricted-access datasets of the 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 School and Staffing Survey (SASS) Teacher Questionnaire (TQ). STEM teachers' participation in ELL-focused professional development activities, credentialing related to ELLs, and ELL populations in STEM teachers' courses were analyzed to quantify changes in these measures over time and among the STEM disciplines. Regional analysis of STEM teacher populations and ELL populations in STEM classes was also conducted to examine how these factors differed across the United States.

Analyses of these data indicated increases in the percentage of STEM teachers who have ELLs in their service loads and in the average number of ELLs in teacher service loads; these trends were present in all U.S. regions and in all STEM disciplines. However, the total number of STEM teachers who participated in ELL-focused professional development activities increased only slightly over the four-year span. To effectively teach the growing ELL student population, STEM teachers must develop the skills and approaches necessary to educate and engage these students.


Anthropogenic climate change is a significant driver of change in marine ecosystems globally. To improve mechanistic understanding of the impact of climate-related stressors, experimental work on marine organisms has intensified in recent decades. A previous synthesis paper published nearly a decade ago established that Marine Climate Change Experiments (MCCEs) published from 2000–2009 were primarily laboratory-based and focused on single stressors and individual focal temperate species. Using consistent methodology, we compared the 2000–2009 analysis to experiments published in the following decade (i.e. 2010–2019) to assess recent trends in MCCEs and to determine to what extent knowledge gaps and research priorities have been addressed. The search returned 854 papers, vs. 110 from the 2000s, indicating considerable intensification of research effort and output. We found again that single species studies were most common, particularly with benthic invertebrates as model organisms, and that laboratory-based research comprised over 90% of all studies. However, multiple stressor experiments increased substantially, where tests for interaction effects between ocean acidification (i.e., increased pCO2) and warming were particularly common. Furthermore, a wider range of model species were studied and more community-level experiments were conducted in the 2010s compared with the 2000s. In addition, studies on behavioral responses, transgenerational effects, genetic adaptation and extreme climatic events increased markedly. These recent advances in MCCEs have undoubtedly improved understanding of how climate change will affect marine organisms and the communities and ecosystems they underpin. Going forward, biases in the type and distribution of model organisms should be addressed to enhance general understanding of responses to environmental change. Similarly, experiments should manipulate a greater number and range of climate and non-climate factors and increase the number of target organisms to increase realism. Finally, where possible, further research should be combined and contextualized with field-based experiments and observations to better reflect the complexity of marine ecosystems and yield more representative responses to ocean climate change.


Two-dimensional incremental and accumulating strain paths have been calculated from displacement paths preserved by syntectonic, fibrous growths of calcite in ten specimens from limbs of various folds of the Conococheague Formation. The folds are asymmetric, possess a slaty cleavage, and consist of multilayers of mechanically stiff dolomite interlayered with less stiff limestone in which displacement paths were measured. The strain paths are referred to a local, rotating coordinate frame which is approximately defined by the strata as they rotate during folding. The calculated strain paths give an estimate of the change in orientation of the principal directions of strain with respect to layering on fold limbs. As expected, the principal extensional strain begins at a high angle to layering and rotates toward layering as folding progresses. The sense of rotation reverses on opposite fold limbs, and one limb tends to have smaller magnitudes of rotation than the other. Similar strain paths occur on the limbs of finite-element computer models of asymmetric folds produced by buckling single layers inclined as much as 15° to the direction of boundary shortening. Although the natural folds are multilayers, comparison with the computer models indicates that strata near Blue Ridge were locally inclined as much as 15° to the direction of bulk shortening. If this direction was nearly horizontal, some strata may have had dips as high as 15°NW prior to late Paleozoic deformation.


Contrasting tectonic models for the Highland Border Complex in the Scottish Caledonides view it either as part of the rifted Laurentian margin of the Iapetus Ocean or as an oceanic terrane. Detrital zircon data from sandstones of the complex yield age peaks at 2.8–2.6, 1.3 and 1.1–1.0 Ga and minor peaks at c. 1.7–1.9 Ga. These characteristics compare closely with those of the upper Dalradian Supergroup of the adjacent Grampian terrane, and with the record of eastern Laurentia. The data are also consistent with the Laurentian provenance indicated by palaeontological evidence from the complex, and field evidence for continuity with the Dalradian Supergroup. Detrital ages for the Cambrian Salterella Grit of the Caledonian foreland compare with those for approximately age-equivalent sandstones from the Highland Border Complex. Both were contemporaneous with the regressive Hawke Bay event, accounting for similarities in provenance, and further linking the Highland Border Complex to Laurentia. The Grampian terrane was being uplifted and shedding detritus throughout the Ordovician and Silurian. The absence of this event from the detrital zircon records of either the Midland Valley or Southern Upland terranes suggests that these blocks cannot have been in their current location relative to the Grampian terrane before the end of the Silurian. Supplementary material: The complete analytical dataset and cathodoluminescence images are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18531.


Micromixing is a key process in microfluidics technology. However, rapid and efficient fluid mixing is difficult to achieve inside the microchannels due to unfavourable laminar flow. Active micromixers employing ultrasound and thermal energy are effective in enhancing the micromixing process; however, integration of these energy sources within the devices is a non-trivial task. In this study, ultrasound and thermal energy have been extraneously applied at the upstream of the micromixer to significantly reduce fabrication complexity. A novel Dean micromixer was laser-fabricated to passively increase mixing performance and compared with T- and Y-micromixers at Reynolds numbers between 5 to 100. The micromixers had a relatively higher mixing index at lower Reynolds number, attributed to higher residence time. Dean micromixer exhibits higher mixing performance (about 27% better) than T- and Y-micromixers for 40 ≤ Re ≤ 100. Influence of ultrasound and heat on mixing is more significant at 5 ≤ Re ≤ 20 due to the prolonged mechanical effects. It can be observed that mixing index increases by about 6% to 10% once the temperature of the sonicated fluids increases from 30 °C to 60 °C. The proposed method is potentially useful as direct contact of the inductive energy sources may cause unwanted substrate damage and structural deformation especially for applications in biological analysis and chemical synthesis.


Introduction The authors of this jointly written memoir divided its writing between them, one (H. S. W. M.) writing of the life, the other (N. F.) of the scientific work of its subject. Obviously, these two aspects cannot wholly be separated; inevitably some degree of overlap must remain in the two accounts. It is hoped that the reader will be indulgent: at least, every effort has been made to reduce mere repetition to a minimum. Early career— up to the end of World War I James Chadwick was born at Bollington near Macclesfield on 20 October 1891. He had two brothers, and one sister who died at an early age. When his father left the countryside to establish a laundry business in Manchester, Chadwick stayed on with his grandmother and received his primary education at the local school. He showed early aptitude for scholarship but it was not financially possible to send him to Manchester Grammar School for further education. Instead he went to Manchester Municipal Secondary School where the teaching was very good. In the first year at Secondary School he took a wide range of subjects including science and mathematics. The only striking omission, at least for time, was Greek. This was a cause of some regret to Chadwick but, as he himself says, if he had taken Greek he might well have continued with the classics, rather than with science. As time went on he became particularly interested in mathematics and physics though not especially so in chemistry. He was much encouraged by a sixth form master, Mr Wolfenden, to specialize in mathematics and it was his main interest at the time, especially applied mathematics.


This letter investigates source-channel coding for error-resilient video streaming using redundant encoding. We estimate the end-to-end distortion per redundantly encoded macroblock (MB) via extension of the recursive optimal per-pixel estimate to encompass redundant transmissions. Redundant encoding is formulated as joint optimization of the MB parameters in the primary and redundant transmissions. We present three encoding strategies with different gain-complexity tradeoffs. The proposed methods are general in nature, and could be implemented on top of any (hybrid) video codec. Simulation results employing H.264's redundant slice mechanism show significant performance gains over conventional error-resilient encoding methods and naive redundant encoding schemes.


We present recent results on in-medium spectral functions of vector and axial-vector mesons, the electromagnetic (EM) spectral function and dilepton rates using the Functional Renormalization Group (FRG) approach. Our method is based on an analytic continuation procedure that allows us to calculate real-time quantities like spectral functions at finite temperature and chemical potential. As an effective low-energy model for Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) we use an extended linear-sigma model including quarks where (axial-)vector mesons as well as the photon are introduced as gauge bosons. In particular, it is shown how the ρ and the a1 spectral function become degenerate at high temperatures or chemical potentials due to the restoration of chiral symmetry. Preliminary results for the EM spectral function and the dilepton production rate are discussed with a focus on the possibility to identify signatures of the chiral crossover and the critical endpoint (CEP) in the QCD phase diagram.


Pterocarpus angolensis is a savanna tree species growing mostly in the miombo and undifferentiated woodlands found in the southern and central parts of Africa. Exploitation for its medicinal and commercial uses has led to a diminishing of wild populations. Artificial propagation, domestication and exploitation in a sustainable manner depend on detailed knowledge on germination of the seeds. The effects of eight potential dormancy-breaking treatments, compared with no treatment, on promoting the germination of P. angolensis seeds were examined. Five seed provenances were used, namely Mufulira and Chati from Zambia, and Gokwe, Matopos and Mtao from Zimbabwe. Seeds were treated by nicking to remove a small piece of seed coat near to the radical, soaking in cold water or an aqueous solution of gibberellic acid (GA3 at 10, 50, 100 or 1 000ppm; GA4/7 at 10 or 1 000ppm). Treatments with gibberellic acids, regardless of the concentration, had little effect on germination rates when compared with the control seeds. With nicking, high and rapid rates of germination occurred for all provenances within approximately 5d of sowing the seeds, suggesting that nicking alone could improve seed germination.


We describe a new catalyst for group IV nanowire heterostructures, based on alloying Ag with Au, that combines the ability to control catalyst phase and nanowire structure with good environmental stability. Compared to other alloy catalysts, we show a higher oxidation resistance of AgAu and more consistent crystal shapes and catalyst/nanowire orientation relationships during growth. We show that AgAu catalysts are also stable against diffusion during growth, making them capable of forming long nanowires with uniform diameters. Furthermore, we demonstrate the growth of compositionally abrupt Si/Ge heterojunctions with good reproducibility and yield, switching individual nanowires between vapor-liquid-solid and vapor-solid-solid growth to optimize growth rates by control of the catalyst state. The stability and properties of AgAu catalysts potentially open up a promising and practical route toward control of group IV heterostructure nanowires.


We report data from laboratory emissions allowance markets in which allowances do not expire and can be banked between compliance periods. These periods consist of a sealed bid auction, trading, and then compliance. The markets consist of multiple sequential compliance periods. We observe (1) market prices reflect an expectation of future market prices, not underlying equilibrium; (2) allowance banking increases with uncertainty; and (3) the secondary market not the auction is the primary mechanism of overall market efficiency. Contrary to our hypotheses, we also find (4) no efficiency difference resulting from the use of a uniform price or discriminative price auction and (5) no price or efficiency differences resulting from differing bid reporting rules after the auctions.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine whether MR studies in the neonatal period are predictive of the neuroradiologic sequelae and clinical outcome in premature and term infants with perinatal brain injury. METHODS: Thirty subjects (15 premature and 15 term infants) with abnormalities revealed by initial MR studies were reexamined approximately 1 year after birth with both MR imaging and a neurologic assessment. All initial MR studies were performed between 35 and 45 weeks corrected age in premature infants and within 28 days of life in term infants. The initial MR studies were evaluated for deep gray matter involvement, hemispheric parenchymal change, intracranial hemorrhage, and periventricular signal and/or morphologic changes. These MR findings were compared with the follow-up MR findings and with the neurologic outcome. RESULTS: The development of cerebral palsy in premature infants was related to the following initial MR findings: subependymal hemorrhage associated with parenchymal destruction, periventricular signal alteration with irregularity of the ventricular wall, and widespread cerebral infarction. These MR findings were predictive of the subtypes of cerebral palsy. In term asphyxiated infants, T2 signal alterations of the deep gray matter rather than T1 shortening and diffuse involvement of the hemispheres were predictive of an unfavorable outcome. Both in term and premature infants, focal hemispheric parenchymal lesions alone (including infarction and intracerebral, subdural, intraventricular, and subarachnoid hemorrhage) did not produce poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: MR studies performed at or near term in either premature or term infants with perinatal brain damage are effective in predicting both late neuroradiologic and clinical outcome.


Cryptocurrency regulations are developing fast. Across the world, authorities are reacting to the emerging threat posed by criminals using new payment methods to conceal and launder the proceeds of their crimes.
However, as the application of anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) due diligence requirements becomes stricter and more entities implement preventative measures, criminals are constantly looking elsewhere for potential havens for their illicit activities.
This Working Paper offers an insight into some potential consequences of changes in AML/CFT legislation in relation to cryptocurrency exchange services and virtual assets.


: Uniform definition and classification are required premises for the diagnosis of obesity. The indication for treatment of obesity is based on exact diagnostic procedures. This paper will critically discuss clinical and biochemical approaches to the diagnosis of obesity.


BACKGROUND:
Acute otitis media is among the most common reasons young children seek medical care, with Streptococcus pneumoniae the most common pathogen. Despite introduction of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in 2000, recent experience suggests an increase in complications of acute otitis media, particularly acute mastoiditis (AM).

METHODS:
We performed a retrospective review of acute mastoiditis in children from 1999-2008 using inpatient data from the Colorado Hospital Association and the Children's Hospital Colorado. The study included patients with documentation of AM or mastoidectomy and excluded those with chronic mastoiditis, chronic otitis media, or cholesteatoma.

RESULTS:
The annual incidence of acute mastoiditis in children <2 years / 100,000 population was 11.0 in 2001 before decreasing to 4.6 in 2002 and 4.5 in 2003. The incidence then increased to 12.0 in 2008 (total N=242). The proportion of S. pneumoniae isolates non-susceptible to penicillin increased from 0% (0/16) between 1999-2004 to 38% (5/13) between 2005-2008 (P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS:
The incidence of acute mastoiditis in Colorado children <2 years of age exhibited a dynamic pattern from 1999 to 2008: a significant decline early after introduction of PCV7 that paralleled initial vaccine uptake, followed by an increase in subsequent years to pre-PCV7 levels. Replacement with non-PCV7 pneumococcal serotypes and increased pneumococcal antibiotic resistance may be responsible for the increase in incidence to pre-PCV7 rates. Surveillance of mastoiditis incidence, pathogen distribution, and resistance patterns following introduction of 13-valent PCV is warranted.


•� Objective: To discuss the clinical approach to treating pain in chronic pancreatitis (CP). •� Methods: Review of the literature. •� Results: CP is an inflammatory condition characterized by irreversible and progressive destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma and pancreatic ducts, which leads to debilitating symptoms of severe abdominal pain. The etiology of pain in pancreatitis is multifactorial. Currently, as none of the therapies can counteract the inflammatory process of CP, management has included analgesics for pain management and enzyme replacement for exocrine insufficiency, with endoscopic and surgical techniques reserved for treating the complications of CP, such as ductal anatomic abnormalities. Diagnostic techniques are now underway to improve early detection of CP for both optimizing treatments and for prevention of complications, which include malabsorption, ductal obstruction, and pancreatic cancer. Noninvasive methods for pain management such as nonenteric-coated pancreatic enzymes, prokinetics in cases of concomitant gastric dysmotility due to CP, pregabalin, antioxidants, nerve blocks, and endoscopic interventions have yielded better results than were found in the past decade. •� Conclusion: As the pathophysiology of CP is fully delineated, the resultant pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiencies associated with the disease can be better treated.


A frequently used method of clustering is a technique called k-means clustering. The k-means algorithm consists of two steps: A map step, which is simple to execute on a GPU, and a reduce step, which is more problematic. Previous researchers have used a hybrid approach in which the map step is computed on the GPU and the reduce step is performed on the CPU. In this work, we present a new algorithm for irregular reductions and apply it to k-means such that the GPU executes both the map and reduce steps. We provide experimental comparisons using OpenCL. Our results show that our scheme is 3.2 times faster than the hybrid scheme for k = 10, an average 1.5 times faster when the number of clusters, k = 100 and on average equal for k = 400, on an ATI Radeon® HD 5870 (best speedup was 3.5 times) compared to the hybrid approach. In addition, we compare the GPU code with the standard OpenMP benchmark, MineBench. In that implementation, both the map and reduce steps are computed on the CPU. For large data sizes, the new GPU scheme shows great promise, with performance up to 35 times faster than MineBench on a four core Intel i7 CPU.


An analysis is made of the results of pleuropneumonectomy for diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma in 29 patients and a comparison is made with the results of non-surgical treatment in a further 17 patients. A system of tumour staging is proposed, and the results are correlated with tumour stage and with histological type. Pleuropneumonectomy does not appear materially to affect the course of the disease in cases of mixed epithelial and mesenchymal histological type. However, stage I cases of pure epithelial histological type appear to carry a better prognosis, especially those whose histological structure consists entirely of abundant oedematous mucoid stroma with loosely arranged tumour cells. It is suggested therefore that only epithelial cases should be subjected to pleuropneumonectomy. Means of reducing operative mortality are discussed and alternative methods of treatment described.


Abstract. Terrestrial ecosystems represent a major sink for ozone (O3) and also a critical control of tropospheric O3 budget. However, due to its deleterious effects, plant functioning is affected by the ozone absorbed. It is thus necessary to both predict total ozone deposition to ecosystems and partition the fluxes in stomatal and non-stomatal pathways. The Surfatm-O3 model was developed to predict ozone deposition to agroecosystems from sowing to harvest, taking into account each deposition pathways during bare soil, growth, maturity, and senescence periods. An additional sink was added during senescence: stomatal deposition for yellow leaves, not able to photosynthesise but transpiring. The model was confronted to measurements performed over three maize crops in different regions of France. Modelled and measured fluxes agreed well for one dataset for any phenological stage, with only 4% difference over the whole cropping season. A larger discrepancy was found for the two other sites, 15% and 18% over the entire study period, especially during bare soil, early growth and senescence. This was attributed to site-specific soil resistance to ozone and possible chemical reactions between ozone and volatile organic compounds emitted during late senescence. Considering both night-time and daytime conditions, non-stomatal deposition was the major ozone sink, from 100% during bare soil period to 70–80% on average during maturity. However, considering only daytime conditions, especially under optimal climatic conditions for plant functioning, stomatal flux could represent 75% of total ozone flux. This model could improve estimates of crop yield losses and projections of tropospheric ozone budget.


When linearly polarized light impinging on a lens, it will reflect and refract along the lines curves resulting from the interception of a plane (plane of polarization) with a sphere (lens surface) maintaining the orientation of refraction and reflection within the plane of polarization. This effect is significant only looking at the lens laterally. Therefore, a lens acts as a lateral analyzer when the polarization plane of polarized light incident on the lens is rotated. Following this principle that in the spherical surface of a lens fit n circles of radius r, where n is inversely proportional to r, and each circle is a lens itself. Then if a beam of light is shined in one of these areas, the polarization phenomenon is expressed lateral side and diametrically opposite to where the incident linearly polarized light, the lens acting as a waveguide for the light beam polarized.


This paper explores sonic microinteraction using muscle sensing through the Myo armband. The first part presents results from a small series of experiments aimed at finding the baseline micromotion and muscle activation data of people being at rest or performing short/small actions. The second part presents the prototype instrument MicroMyo, built around the concept of making sound with little motion. The instrument plays with the convention that inputting more energy into an instrument results in more sound. MicroMyo, on the other hand, is built so that the less you move, the more it sounds. Our user study shows that while such an "inverse instrument" may seem puzzling at first, it also opens a space for interesting musical interactions.


ABSTRACT Two principal areas of application for estimated computed tomography (CT) images are dose calculations in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based radiotherapy treatment planning and attenuation correction for positron emission tomography (PET)/MRI. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the performance of hidden Markov (chain) models (HMMs) in comparison to hidden Markov random field (HMRF) models when predicting CT images of head. Obtained results suggest that HMMs deserve a further study for investigating their potential in modeling applications, where the most natural theoretical choice would be the class of HMRF models.


Based on a dataset of national reference and basic stations, which have been quality controlled and inhomogeneity processed, updated surface air temperature (SAT) series of the past 67 (1951–2017) and 113 (1905–2017) years for mainland China are constructed and analyzed. The new temperature series show significant warming trends of 0.24°C/10yr and 0.09°C/10yr respectively for the two periods. The rapid regional warming generally begins from the mid-1980s, about a decade later than the northern hemisphere average SAT change. Warming during the period of 1951–2017 is larger and more significant in the northeast, north, northwest and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and the most significant SAT increase usually occurs in winter and spring except for the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau where winter and autumn undergo the largest warming. The slowdown of the warming can be clearly detected after 1998, especially for autumn and winter. The effect of urbanization on trends of the region averaged annual and seasonal mean SAT as calculated from the national reference and basic stations has not been adjusted, despite it being generally large and significant. In north China, the increasing trend of annual mean SAT induced by urbanization for the national stations is 0.10°C/10yr for the period 1961–2015, accounting for at least 31% of the overall annual mean warming. The contribution of urbanization to the overall warming of the past half century in Mainland China has also been summarized and discussed referring to the previous studies.


BACKGROUND
Phenylbutyrate is a drug used in patients with urea cycle disorder to elicit alternative pathways for nitrogen disposal. However, phenylbutyrate administration decreases plasma branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations, and previous research suggests that phenylbutyrate administration may increase leucine oxidation, which would indicate increased protein degradation and net protein loss.

OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of phenylbutyrate administration on whole-body protein metabolism, glutamine, leucine, and urea kinetics in healthy and ornithine transcarbamylase-deficient (OTCD) subjects and the possible benefits of BCAA supplementation during phenylbutyrate therapy.

DESIGN
Seven healthy control and 7 partial-OTCD subjects received either phenylbutyrate or no treatment in a crossover design. In addition, the partial-OTCD and 3 null-OTCD subjects received phenylbutyrate and phenylbutyrate plus BCAA supplementation. A multitracer protocol was used to determine the whole-body fluxes of urea and amino acids of interest.

RESULTS
Phenylbutyrate administration reduced ureagenesis by ≈15% without affecting the fluxes of leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, or glutamine and the oxidation of leucine or phenylalanine. The transfer of (15)N from glutamine to urea was reduced by 35%. However, a reduction in plasma concentrations of BCAAs due to phenylbutyrate treatment was observed. BCAA supplementation did not alter the respective baseline fluxes.

CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged phenylbutyrate administration reduced ureagenesis and the transfer of (15)N from glutamine to urea without parallel reductions in glutamine flux and concentration. There were no changes in total-body protein breakdown and amino acid catabolism, which suggests that phenylbutyrate can be used to dispose of nitrogen effectively without adverse effects on body protein economy.


Left ventricular (LV) function evaluation is an integral part of every echocardiographic examination of the heart. Left atrial (LA) evaluation provides valuable clinical information that can contribute greatly to LV function evaluation. An automatic method for simultaneous tracking of LV and LA volumes through cardiac cycle is presented. The proposed method provides an extended framework for LV function analysis.


A little more than 100 years after the discovery of x-rays, this three-volume set is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the theory and current practice of Medical Imaging as we enter the 21st century. As evidenced by the variety of research described in these volumes, medical imaging is still undergoing very rapid change. In more than 50 chapters, well-known experts provide the most current information available for students, researchers and practitioners working in this exciting field. These useful volumes can be ordered as a set or individually.


This book presents a collection of selected essays from the papers presented to the international conference on Plato's Parmenides on the occasion of the 2nd Meeting of the Mediterranean Section of the International Plato Society (Coimbra, 14-16 June 2012). It opens with an introduction to the different approaches to this most challenging dialogue taken by the contributors of the volume. Samuel Scolnicov helpfully brings together the theoretical and ethical dimensions of the Parmenides. Luc Brisson, Nestor Cordero, Maurizio Migliori, Franco Trabattoni, Francesco Fronterotta, Mario Jorge Carvalho, J.D.Bares Partal, Beatriz Bossi, Francesca Pizzuti and Gabriele Cornelli present an in-depth analysis and commentary of the main topics of the first and second part of the dialogue from different points of view. The book also includes further clarification of interpretation problems and the reception of this dialogue in late Antiquity and Renaissance.


A system has been developed to communicate with the On Board Diagnostics system of a car
using the Controller Area Network communication protocol. The system requests the stored
trouble codes that might have been detected by the diagnostics system and sends them
together with a Vehicle Identification Number to a remote server.
The information is stored in a database on a remote server and can be accessed through a web
interface. The web interface allows the user to find his car in the database together with the
detected faults. The database also contains information about trouble codes, such as their
symptoms and how to fix them.
The system was developed on a development platform by Syntronic AB called Midrange and
the final prototype consists of Midrange, a GPRS module to communicate with the remote
server, and an LCD to display runtime information. The communication protocols and drivers
were developed using the low-level software libraries that was provided with the STM32
microcontroller mounted on the Midrange board.
Monitoring the communications while testing the prototype showed that the system works as
intended and can communicate with cars from different manufacturers and deliver the data
reliably to the database. The prototype system was compared with a commercial scan tool and
testing showed that they both produced the same results.


Since the 1978 reforms, city-regions are on the rise in China, and urbanisation is expected to continue as the Central Government intends to further push city development as part of the economic modernisation agenda. City-regions pose new challenges to governance. They transcend multiple local jurisdictions and often involve higher level governments. This paper aims to provide an improved understanding of city-regional governance in China, focusing on three contrasting examples (the Yangtze River Delta Metropolitan Region, the Beijing- Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region, and the Guanzhong-Tianshui Metropolitan Region). We show that, in spite of a strong vertical dimension of city-regional governance in China, the role and interference of the Central Government in matters of metropolitan policy-making is variable.


The number of known nucleotide sequences encoding proteins is growing at an extraordinarily fast rate due to technologies developed in the last decade that enable rapid sequence acquisition. Such rapid acquisition is a prelude to understanding the molecular function and tertiary structure of these protein sequences, and from there to an understanding of the role these proteins play in a particular organism. The experimental technologies that enable us to understand molecular function have not progressed as fast as those for sequencing. One role of computational biology is to accurately predict protein molecular function based on the protein's sequence alone.
Phylogenomics is a field of study that approaches the problem of protein molecular function prediction from an evolutionary perspective. In particular, a phylogenomic analysis transfers existing (but sparse) molecular function annotations to a query protein based on a reconciled phylogeny, which explicitly represents the evolutionary relationships of a set of related proteins. In my dissertation, I formalize the phylogenomics methodology as a statistical graphical model of molecular function evolution. Within this framework, we can predict protein molecular function from protein sequence alone. Molecular function evolution is represented as a simple continuous time Markov chain, and the random variables at each node in the tree are a subset of functional terms from the Gene Ontology. The model is encapsulated in a framework called SIFTER (Statistical Inference of Function Through Evolutionary Relationships).
SIFTER has performed well on a number of diverse protein families, as compared to standard annotation transfer methods and other phylogenomics-based approaches. SIFTER has been applied to the complete genomes of 46 fungal species, and is able to make molecular function predictions for a large percentage of the predicted proteins in these genomes. Moreover, through these predictions we can explore some genomic comparisons for fungi. Motivated by the high cost of characterization experiments, active learning techniques have also been applied to SIFTER's protein function predictions, with good results.


This thesis investigates solution methodologies for concrete combinatorial problems in scheduling and planning. In all considered problems, it is assumed that the available information does not change over time; hence these problems have a deterministic structure. The problems studied in this thesis are divided into two groups; \workforce scheduling" and \planning". In workforce scheduling, the center problem is to build a schedule of tasks and technicians. It is assumed that the time line is split into workdays. In every workday, tasks must be grouped as sequences, each being performed by a team of technicians. Skill requirements of every task in a sequence must be met by the assigned team. This scheduling problem with some other aspects is di??cult to solve quickly and e??ciently. We developed a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) based heuristic approach to tackle this complex scheduling problem. Our MIP model is basically a formulation of the matching problem on bipartite graphs and it enabled us to have a global way of assigning technicians to tasks. It is capable of revising technician-task allocations and performs very well, especially in the case of rare skills. A workday schedule of the aforementioned problem includes many-to-one type workforce assignments. As the second problem in workforce scheduling, stability of these workforce assignments is investigated. The stability de??nition of Gale-Shapley on the Marriage model is extended to the setting of multi-skill workforce assignments. It is shown that ??nding stable assignments is NP-hard. In some special cases stable assignments can be constructed in polynomial time. For the general case, we give linear inequalities of binary variables that describe the set of stable assignments. We propose a MIP model including these linear inequalities. To the best of our knowledge, the Gale-Shapley stability is not studied under the multi-skill workforce scheduling framework so far in the literature. The closed form description of stable assignments is also the ??rst embedding of the Gale-Shapley stability concept into an NP-complete problem. In the second problem group, two vehicle related problems are studied; the "dial a ride problem" and the "vehicle refueling problem". In the former, the goal is to check whether a list of pick-up and delivery tasks can be achieved under several timing constraints. It is shown this feasibility testing can be done in linear time using interval graphs. In the vehicle refueling problem, the goal is to make refueling decisions to reach a destination such that the cost of the travel is minimized. A greedy algorithm is presented to ??nd optimal refueling decisions. Moreover, it is shown that the vehicle refueling problem is equivalent to a ow problem on a special network.


The Kyoto protocol, signed by 160 countries, pledges greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of at least 5% relative to 1990 levels [1]. Besides the global concern and action to mitigate GHG emissions, national-level policies are increasingly being supplemented with city-scale actions to
mitigate climate change [2]. Marshall [3] makes us notice that although much attention on mitigating climate change has focused
on alternative fuels, energy consumption in vehicles, and electricity generation, better urban design represents an important yet undervalued opportunity. The built environment is responsible for huge amounts of pollution and waste generation [4] at millions of different locations worldwide. And one of the major construction materials is concrete.


The current study was undertaken to estimate the concentrations of elements present and in formulations of Panchsakar churna i.e. in-house and three marketed formulations. Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) was used for elemental analysis in the field of quality control procedures and research concerned with plant samples and concentrations of various elements present were estimated by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). One marketed formulation shows presence of cadmium, whereas Cr and Pb both are present in In house and marketed formulations. The high levels of Ca, Cu, K, Na and Mg are present in all the formulations of Panchsakar churna. This study indicates the presence of essential and potentially toxic elements are within the limit and formulation can be used on regular basis without any harmful effect.


PURPOSE: To develop a mouse model to study the influence of hypoxia in breast cancer progression and metastasis. METHODS: The 4T1 cell line was used to engraft the kidneys of female BALB/c mice. Placing an aneurysm clip on the kidney hilum, hypoxia can be directed to tumor site. Histological evaluation was used to analyze the morphological changes induced by ischemia in kidney cortex, and to verify the metastatic potential. RESULTS: 4T1 cells can be engrafted into the renal cortex and the renal ischemia caused by using a clip to clamp the renal hilum induces hypoxia at the tumor site. This procedure maintains the ability of 4T1 cells to metastasize. In fact, our preliminary results showed that tumor hypoxia precipitates the metastatic dissemination of tumor cells. After 14 days of engraftment, lung metastases were observed only in mice that were subjected to tumor hypoxia. CONCLUSION: This model can help us to understand how low oxygen tension mediates hypoxia-induced proteomic and genomic changes in breast cancer.


Recently, a modified theory of gravity was presented, which consists of the superposition of the metric Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian with an $f(\cal R)$ term constructed \`{a} la Palatini. The theory possesses extremely interesting features such as predicting the existence of a long-range scalar field, that explains the late-time cosmic acceleration and passes the local tests, even in the presence of a light scalar field. In this brief report, we consider the possibility that wormholes are supported by this hybrid metric-Palatini gravitational theory. We present here the general conditions for wormhole solutions according to the null energy conditions at the throat and find specific examples. In the first solution, we specify the redshift function, the scalar field and choose the potential that simplifies the modified Klein-Gordon equation. This solution is not asymptotically flat and needs to be matched to a vacuum solution. In the second example, by adequately specifying the metric functions and choosing the scalar field, we find an asymptotically flat spacetime.


Objective. To evaluate and compare the diagnostic efficiency of a digital radiographic system (RadioVisioGraphy –RVG-) in combination with a diagnostic assisting program (Logicon) with RVG in basic mode, magnification and conventional radiography (Kodak). Study design. A study was made of 384 proximal surfaces corresponding to 192 posterior teeth. The diagnostic techniques employed comprised Kodak DF-58 Ultraspeed X-rays and a Trophy RVG system used in normal mode, magnification, combination with a caries diagnosis assisting program by Logicon; Kodak DF-58 Ultraspeed radiographs were used. The same X-ray source was used in all cases. The images obtained were compared to histological sections of the teeth used. These were brewed by abrasion and observed using a light microscope. A single operator made all observations. Sensitivity, specificity, the positive and negative predictive values, and the probability ratio were calculated. Results. Application of the Logicon program increased sensitivity, specially in lesions with caries extending into the dentin. In contrast, conventional radiography yielded a higher specificity and positive predictive value. The negative predictive values were similar for both tecniques. Conclusions. The RVG digital radiography and the Logicon assistance program was effective in diagnosing caries.


Background: We have shown that black raspberries (BRB) as well as their component anthocyanins (AC) inhibit N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced esophageal tumorigenesis in rats. Like many polyphenolic compounds, the bioavailability of BRB anthocyanins is low. The majority of BRB anthocyanins are metabolized by gut bacteria to produce protocatechuic acid (PCA). PCA has been shown to be bioavailable and also to be chemopreventive. Furthermore, we have shown that BRB and their anthocyanins decrease methylation and increase tumor suppressor gene (TSG) expression; e.g., SFRP and WIF1, Wnt pathway antagonists, as well as p16 and PAX6a, in human colon tumors. The current study was designed to determine if PCA is effective in preventing NMBA-induced rat esophageal tumorigenesis by reducing DNA methylation and increasing expression of TSG(s). Materials and Methods: Male Fischer 344 rats aged 3-5 weeks were randomized into five groups and injected s.c. with either the vehicle (20% DMSO/water) or NMBA (0.35 mg/kg b.w.) three times a week for five weeks. During this time all rats were fed control diet (AIN-76A). At the beginning of week 6, all rats were started on their study diets (Group 1: vehicle + AIN-76A, Group 2: NMBA + AIN-76A, Group 3: NMBA + 3.8 umoles AC/g of AIN-76A, Group 4: NMBA+ 6% BRB in AIN-76A, Group 5: NMBA+ 500 ppm PCA in AIN-76A). The concentration of 3.8 umole AC/g of diet for Group 3 was chosen to compare with past studies, 6% BRB were used to match the anthocyanin content of Group 3, and 500 ppm PCA is the estimated amount of anthocyanins converted to PCA from 3.8 umole AC/g diet in the gut. A total of 9 animals per group were harvested at weeks 15 and 25, and 30 rats per group will be harvested at week 35. Esophagi were harvested and esophageal tumors counted and sized. After counting the tumors, one half of the esophagus was used for histological analysis and the other half for DNA/RNA extraction to investigate relevant TSG expression and methylation. Results: The study is still on going. H&E slide scoring revealed significantly reduced hyperplasia in all test diet groups (BRB, AC, PCA) when compared to the NMBA control group at week 15. At week 25, the test diets had no effect on dysplasia frequency, however, all test diets reduced tumor incidence. NMBA treatment led to an increase in dimethyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) mRNA expression at week 15 and week 25, and 500 ppm PCA decreased DNMT3b expression at both time points. NMBA treatment caused increased methylation and down-regulated mRNA expression of SFRP4 when compared to the vehicle control group at week 25 but not at week 15. None of the test diets influenced DNA methylation or mRNA expression of SFRP4 in NMBA-treated rats at either week 15 or 25. No differences in methylation status of PTX3 (Pentraxin 3), a cytokine released by phagocytic and dendritic cells and shown to be methylated in human esophageal cancer, was observed across all groups at either time point. Conclusion: These results suggest for the first time that PCA may be protective against NMBA-induced esophageal tumorigenesis in rats. PCA significantly reduced tumor incidence, similar to that of BRB and their anthocyanins, by preventing the conversion of dysplastic lesions into papillomas. Preliminary evidence suggests that PCA influences the expression of a key methyltransferase (DNMT3b) in NMBA-treated rat esophagus. Citation Format: Dan Peiffer, Jibran H. Siddiqui, Chieh-Ti Kuo, Yi-Wen Huang, Noah P. Zimmerman, Li-Shu Wang, Gary D. Stoner, Steven G. Carmella, Ben Ransom, Stephen S. Hecht. Chemoprevention of esophageal cancer using PCA, a metabolite of black raspberry-derived anthocyanins. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A49.


The Armco iron is one of the purest commercial iron with very low levels of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. In order to improve the mechanical properties, it is worth applying severe plastic deformation to obtain ultrafine-grained bulk materials, with grain size <1µm. In this study, samples of Armco iron were subjected to a technique of severe plastic deformation named Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB). The important parameter of ARB is the number of cycles and then the von Mises equivalent strain. By means of the Electron BackScattered Diffraction (EBSD) technique, the texture evolution with the number of cycles was studied. The microhardness was also measured in function of the equivalent strain. Finally, the mean grain size and the fraction of high angle grain boundaries were determined as a function of the number of cycles.


This paper presents a method for pedestrian detection with stereovision and graph comparison. Images are segmented thanks to the NCut method applied on a single image, and the disparity is computed from a pair of images. This segmentation enables us to keep only shapes of potential obstacles, by eliminating the background. The comparison between two graphs is accomplished with an inner product for graph, and then the recognition stage is performed learning is done among several pedestrian and non-pedestrian graphs with SVM method. The results that are depicted are preliminary results but they show that this approach is very promising since it clearly demonstrates that our graph representation is able to deal with the variability of pedestrian pose.


Recent work in blind source separation applied to anechoic mixtures of speech allows for improved reconstruction of sources that rarely overlap in a time-frequency representation. While the assumption that speech mixtures do not overlap significantly in time-frequency is reasonable, music mixtures rarely meet this constraint, requiring new approaches. We introduce a method that uses spatial cues from anechoic, stereo music recordings and assumptions regarding the structure of musical source signals to effectively separate mixtures of tonal music. We discuss existing techniques to create partial source signal estimates from regions of the mixture where source signals do not overlap significantly. We use these partial signals within a new demixing framework, in which we estimate harmonic masks for each source, allowing the determination of the number of active sources in important time-frequency frames of the mixture. We then propose a method for distributing energy from time-frequency frames of the mixture to multiple source signals. This allows dealing with mixtures that contain time-frequency frames in which multiple harmonic sources are active without requiring knowledge of source characteristics.


This paper identifies and analyses some drawbacks of the logistic map which is still one of the most used chaotic maps in image encryption algorithms. As some of the disadvantages are caused by inappropriate implementations of the logistic map, this paper proposes a set of rules which should lead to enhancement of the desired chaotic behavior. Probably the most important rule introduces alternating value of parameter utilized by the logistic map. With careful choice of values and an adapted quantization technique, some of the issues should be fixed and theoretically also the values of numerical parameters should be improved. These assumptions are verified by applying the proposed set of rules on an algorithm from our prior work. Effects of the proposed rules on the used algorithm are investigated and all necessary modifications are thoroughly discussed. The paper also compares obtained values of commonly used numerical parameters and computational complexity with some other image encryption algorithms based on more complex chaotic systems.


In this article, we look at a model with (independent) system operator who faces stochastic but growing transmission demand and a penalty if frequency
is not balanced. In this set up, we derive an optimal grid expansion investment strategy and analyze its value and risk implications. It turns out that
the firm value is strictly concave in the level of transmission demand. Firm value, however, increases with optimal investment for any level of demand.
Moreover, firm risk is decreasing in the level of demand and higher when the firm has an investment option. The risk increase corresponds to the exercise of the call option and is stronger, the closer the firm approaches its exercise
trigger. (author's abstract)


Maintenance of metabolic alkalosis generated by chloride depletion is often attributed to volume contraction. In balance and clearance studies in rats and humans, we showed that chloride repletion in the face of persisting alkali loading, volume contraction, and potassium and sodium depletion completely corrects alkalosis by a renal mechanism. Nephron segment studies strongly suggest the corrective response is orchestrated in the collecting duct, which has several transporters integral to acid-base regulation, the most important of which is pendrin, a luminal Cl/HCO(3)(-) exchanger. Chloride depletion alkalosis should replace the notion of contraction alkalosis.


Very small-size bandpass filters embedded in the organic substrate for wireless front-end applications are presented. Due to the lack of fabrication process for large-value capacitors in the organic substrate, a filter prototype using an inductive coupling of series resonators is proposed to achieve high performance within a stringent size constraint. In implementation, the organic bandpass filters are composed of the spiral inductors and parallel-plate capacitors that are embedded in a 4-layer BT laminate, one of today's most popular package substrate. The final realized performance and size are competitive to the LTCC filters but with a much lower cost


Introduction Available data suggest that Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have a significant socioeconomic impact owing partly to increased hospital and drug utilization. The aims of this study were to provide a profile of patients with PD who required admission to hospital and to determine the reasons for emergency admission. Patients and methods Between September 1st, 2004 and August 31st, 2006, patients with PD who were admitted to our emergency department (ED) were included in the study. Patients with PD who were diagnosed by a neurologist formerly, and admitted to the ED with any reason constituted the study population. Demographical data, reasons for admission, years exposed to PD, number of admissions to the emergency department in the past 12 months, prior Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scores were recorded. H&Y was performed again for all patients 4 weeks after discharge. Results Seventy-six patients with PD were included in the study. Reasons for admission to hospital were infectious diseases (31.6%), trauma (27.6%), cardiovascular emergencies (14.5%), cerebrovascular emergencies (11.8%), gastrointestinal emergencies (7.9%), and electrolyte disturbances (6.6%), respectively. There was no dependence between the time of exposure to PD and H&Y score. Number of emergency admittance in the last 12 months was independent from the last H&Y score (p = 0.297). However, there was a dependency between the reasons for emergency admittance and the H&Y scores (p = 0.023). Discussion H&Y score is not dependent on the emergency admittance or on the outcome after discharge from the emergency department. The motor disability by itself cannot predict the whole picture of PD and the systemic complications leading to emergency admittance.


A highly sensitive microbend horizontal fiber-optic accelerometer has been designed, built, and tested. This particular model is aimed at deployment in seismological research where minute accelerations must be detected. The device uses a cantilever beam and the compliance of an optical fiber mounted between deforming teeth to act as the springs in the accelerometer's spring-mass system. Acceleration is detected by sensing the movement of the mass relative to the case through the changes in the intensity of light propagating through the deformed fiber. Accelerations as small as 5 μg at 1 Hz have been detected with a dynamic range in excess of 90 dB.


Background: Treatment strategies for acute hypoxic respiratory failure secondary to coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) had significant variation early in the pandemic. We sought to determine if patients treated with high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) prior to mechanical ventilation had differing outcomes compared to those treated only with conventional oxygen. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of patients with COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary care medical center with a diagnosis of acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Adult patients with a positive polymerase chain reaction test for COVID-19 who required mechanical ventilation were included. Results: A total of 91 patients met the inclusion criteria for our study. The mean age was 68.4 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 12) and 58% were male. The mean initial partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio was 152 (SD ± 65) and was not significantly different between the HFNC group and the conventional oxygen strategy group (P = 0.95). The observed mortality rate was 30% in the HFNC group versus 52% in the conventional oxygen strategy group (P = 0.05). The multivariate odds ratio of mortality for patients on HFNC was 0.375 compared to a conventional oxygen strategy (95% confidence interval 0.122–1.151, P = 0.09). Conclusions: While HFNC appears to be safe as the initial treatment strategy for COVID-19 associated respiratory failure, HFNC did not result in a statistically significant difference in mortality compared to a conventional oxygen strategy. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.


The Gram-positive bacterium Metabacterium polyspora is an uncultivated symbiont of the guinea pig gastrointestinal tract. Here we present evidence that in M. polyspora vegetative cell division has taken on a minor, and apparently dispensable, role in propagation. Instead, this unusual bacterium has evolved the capacity to produce progeny in the form of multiple endospores. Endospore formation is coordinated with transit of the bacterium through the gastrointestinal tract of the guinea pig. For the majority of cells, sporulation is initiated in the ileum, whereas later stages of development take place in the cecum. We show that multiple endospores are generated both by asymmetric division at both poles of the cell and by symmetric division of the endospores at an early stage of their development. Our findings suggest that M. polyspora represents an intermediate step in the evolution of a novel mode of cellular propagation that originates with endospore-forming Bacillus and Clostridium spp., which reproduce by binary fission, and extends to Epulopiscium spp., which create multiple viviparous offspring by a process of internal reproduction.


JULY 2007, VOL. 86 -s 196 ABSTRACT. Aluminum alloys are typically welded on AC with the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. Many power sources have "max penetration" indicated when more than 50% of the AC cycle is spent on electrode negative polarity and "max cleaning" when more than 50% of the cycle is on electrode positive polarity. In the work reported here, weld bead dimensions, notably penetration and bead width, increase with the percentage of electrode positive polarity during the unbalanced square wave AC welding of aluminum alloys with the GTAW process. This is in direct contradiction of conventional assumptions about the role of electrode positive and electrode negative contributions to surface cleaning and fusion behavior during AC welding. The primary source of the extra base metal melting during electrode positive operation is in the nature of cold cathode field emission of electrons from the base metal. The dielectric breakdown of surface oxide as electrons are emitted also contributes to the increased fusion, but this is not a contributory factor once the weld metal surface is completely clean. Both phenomena require extra energy to be supplied to the cathode, which results in the increased fusion. Earlier works on the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process confirm this behavior of enhanced melting at the cathode. Positive ion bombardment, thermal convection from the plasma jet, and radiation from the plasma complete the thermal input to the cathode for metal fusion.


AIM
To determine the prevalence of depression level of older men in Macau and identify factors that predict depression.

BACKGROUND
Studies have revealed the contribution of psychosocial factors such as stress, dissatisfaction at work and stressful life events to older men and the mental health burdens pose a grave threat to their quality of life.

DESIGN
A descriptive survey.

METHOD
The study was conducted from July-August 2004 in six parishes in Macau; 839 older men aged 60+ completed a structured questionnaire.

OUTCOME MEASURES
Predisposing characteristics, social and daily activities, health history and need/behaviours and depression level were collected. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify factors to predict older men who will have depression.

RESULTS
The prevalence rate of depression of older men was 8·6%. It showed that a history of stroke (p=0·039), insomnia (p<0·001), palpitations (p=0·014), poor social network (p=0·005) and self-perceived health status (p=0·001) and perceived low ability to meet living costs (p<0·001) were significant risk factors for depression.

CONCLUSION
We should focus on older men by reducing their burden to meet living costs, improving their sleep quality and helping them to expand their social network. These should help in both prevention and recognition of the onset of depression. Those with the low social network scores could be targeted for more intensive support from the beginning.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
It is important to screen regularly for depression status among older men in the community. Attention to poor perceived health and not enough on the ability to meet living costs were needed and important to follow up.


Maintenance of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) and attempted treatment of the underline cause is associated with increased survival in prolonged cardiac arrest (CA). Thrombolysis targeting treatment of presumable acute myocardial infarction during CA, although plausible, is not routinely recommended. However, with the increase in technology to aid diagnosis during cardiac arrest, it is possible to more accurately infer patients who can benefit. This paper is a case report of a patient who presented an out-hospital subtle CA attended promptly by an alone rescuer. Due to geographical and communication conditions, the rescue system was not activated and the patient was transferred to the closer emergency department after 30 minutes of collapse by the rescuer's own means. The patient was resuscitated by a complete team in a satellite emergency unit and monitored with hand-free paddles. The rhythm was recurrent VF and there was rigorous CPR. The electrocardiogram filter showed ST-segment elevation in a short moment of sustained sinus rhythm. Intra-arrest thrombolytic therapy was performed after 25 minutes of in-hospital CA and immediate return to spontaneous circulation (ROSC) observed. Patient underwent cardiac catheterization with angioplasty of the anterior descending coronary and complete neurological recovery. This case report aims to demonstrate the possible effectiveness of thrombolysis during prolonged CA when ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction diagnosis is made by electrocardiogram filter. High-quality CPR and individualization with underlining cause treatment can promote ROSC, neurological recovery and discharge with good quality of life.


We have developed a novel atomic force microscope (AFM) probe as a highly sensitive sensor and an application of the probe into various mechanical tests for characterizing micro/nanostructures. Using MEMS fabrication technique, we have designed and fabricated rhombus-shaped symmetric AFM probe. Adhesion forces between silicon tip and artificial nano-hair structures of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) and polypropylene (PP) were measured using the probe with a flat tip. The results exhibited the usual characteristics of force-displacement curves of COC and PP nano-hair structures, in which a pull-off force was detected at the point of unloading. The average adhesion forces of the COC and PP hair structures are about 9.48 μN and 10.67 μN, respectively.


We have used on- and offshore seismic reflection profiles to determine the extension of a historic landslide at depth and toward the sea. The subsurface landslide structure was delineated by using four separate data sets produced by the combined use of geophone and hydrophone spreads, and of explosive and air-gun sources which also illuminated, through an undershooting configuration, the subsurface below the coastal road and railway. Many noise problems related to the source and environment were overcome and alleviated with several signal-processing routines. The resulting stack and depth-migrated sections reveal the deep geometry of the main landslide body and indicate the emergence location, at the landslide foot, of a deep, potential detachment surface, which previous investigations failed to evidence.


This position paper offers our personal reflections as five music therapists from varying social and international contexts attempting to understand and engage with the theory, politics and implications of the Neurodiversity Movement. We begin by positioning our views on the importance of the therapist's intentionality when working with individuals for whom this social, cultural and political movement may represent central beliefs and values. The evolution of the Neurodiversity Movement is discussed, growing from the social model of disability and Disability Rights Movements to present a challenge to the dominant, medicalised model of disability. Throughout the paper, we invite critical debate around the role, position and attitude of the music therapist when working with neurodivergent participants, taking the powerful words of Autistic author and activist, Penni Winter, as our provocation. Finally, we offer our interpretation of key concepts and dimensions of this discourse, before sharing examples of how we might apply these understandings to tangible tenets of music therapy practice in different contexts through a series of brief composite case stories. Through critical reflection and discussion, we attempt to draw together the threads of these diverse narratives to challenge a normocentric position, and conclude by posing further questions for the reader and the wider music therapy profession.


When chloramphenicol was incubated with rat liver microsomes anaerobically, it was metabolized predominantly to deschloro-chloramphenicol and products that become irreversibly bound to microsomal protein. Cytochromes P-450 induced by phenobarbital appeared to catalyze these reactions most effectively. Glutathione increased the formation of deschloro-chloramphenicol by 13% and decreased the amount of the irreversibly bound product by 18%, respectively. Only a small amount of the nitroaromatic-reduced product, chloramphenicol amine, was detected by high pressure liquid chromatography. These results are consistent with chloramphenicol being biotransformed and activated by cytochromes P-450 anaerobically through predominantly reductive dechlorination.


We present an "opportunistic" transmission scheduling scheme that exploits time-varying channel conditions and maximizes the average system performance under minimum-performance guarantees. We establish the optimality of the scheduling scheme, and show that the proposed opportunistic scheduling scheme can provide a "no-loss" guarantee compared to non-opportunistic scheduling policies. Furthermore, we show that the feasibility region of users' requirements is convex, and discuss the associated admission control issues. Last, through simulation results, we show that the scheme results in significant performance improvement.


type="main" xml:id="ecpa12066-abs-0001"> It is well known that when there are existing distortions in related markets, partial equilibrium estimates of the welfare costs of new distortions using the standard "Harberger triangle" may be misleading (Goulder & Williams, [Goulder, L., 2003]). We show that similar general equilibrium considerations also play an important role in the development of accurate estimates of the costs of rent seeking. Producers in other markets will have an incentive to engage in additional rent-seeking activity to suppress or encourage the establishment of new distortions in hitherto undistorted markets. In these situations, the total amount of resources spent on trying to encourage or discourage a new distortion or increasing an existing distortion can exceed the sum of the partial equilibrium Harberger ([Harberger, A., 1964]) "triangle" and Tullock ([Tullock, G., 1967]) "rectangle." The analysis and results contrast sharply with standard general equilibrium measures of the welfare costs of distortions and the general theory of second best, which hold that introducing a new distortion or increasing an existing distortion may, in some instances, be welfare improving.


In the field of rural development, various studies relating to social development suggested that without the participation of the NGOs at local level it would be impossible on the part of government to improve the quality of life of the people. The basic objective of all developmental activities is to provide minimum needs to the marginalized sections of the society life food, shelter and health. Government agencies just implement the policies and programmes chalked out by the higher authorities. The policies and programmes suitable for one geographical location may not be suitable for another geographical location. In order to meet the needs of the different sections in the society, the government encouraged and motivated (NGOs) to implement the government policies in a more effective way.


Palytoxin (PTX), a marine toxin, represents an increasing hazard for human health. Despite its high toxicity for biological systems, the mechanisms triggered by PTX, are not well understood. The high affinity of PTX for erythrocyte Na+/K+-ATPase pump is largely known, and it indicates PTX as a sensitive tool to characterize the signal transducer role for Na+/K+-ATPase pump. Previously, it has been reported that in red blood cells (RBC), probably via a signal transduction generated by the formation of a PTX-Na+/K+-ATPase complex, PTX alters band 3 functions and glucose metabolism. The present study addresses the question of which other signaling pathways are regulated by Na+/K+-ATPase in RBC. Here it has been evidenced that PTX following its interaction with Na+/K+-ATPase pump, alters RBC morphology and this event is correlated to decreases by 30% in nitrites and nitrates levels, known as markers of plasma membrane eNOS activity. Orthovanadate (OV), an antagonist of PTX binding to Na+/K+-ATPase pump, was able to reverse the effects elicited by PTX. Finally, current investigation firstly suggests that Na+/K+-ATPase pump, following its interaction with PTX, triggers a signal transduction involved in NO metabolism regulation.


While the viability of many racing industries depends crucially on the sport attracting online bettors, relatively little is known about the role the local offline environment and fan interest plays in consumers' online gambling. Using Finland as a data source, this paper investigates how off-track betting opportunities and the level of interest in horses in a local environment are associated with online horse race betting engagement. Whilst previous research has usually relied on self-reported surveys, we use objective data extracted from consumers' online horse race betting accounts and data sources covering the horse race betting environment, equine statistics, and sociodemographic statistics of Finnish municipalities. Our findings suggest that the off-track betting environment and the level of interest in horses in a municipality appear to be predictors of online horse race betting engagement as measured by betting volume and the number of bettors.


We have studied the mouse lysozyme (ML) peptide-specific T cell repertoire in mice of five different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II haplotypes. 14 ML peptides were tested in a lymph node T cell proliferation assay. Upon immunization of diverse mouse strains with native ML, there was no response to any of the ML peptides tested. However, nine peptides were immunogenic, although there was no consistent pattern of reactivity toward any peptide among these strains. Thus, an autoreactive T cell repertoire directed against cryptic self(ML)-determinants exists, and it is different in mice of different MHC haplotypes. Moreover, our results demonstrate that crypticity is MHC associated and not merely a structural attribute of the determinant. On comparison of the pattern of response of various peptides of ML and that of its foreign homologue, hen eggwhite lysozyme (HEL) in H-2k, H-2b, and H-2d strains of mice, a striking correlation was evident. The stretches of amino acid sequences of determinants within HEL that were dominant in each of these three strains, almost exactly overlapped in position with those of the cryptic ML determinants against which self-reactivity was demonstrated in the same strain. These results demonstrate that the dominance-crypticity relationship between HEL and ML resulting from differential processing of these two proteins is critical in determining the response to HEL rather than the degree of sequence difference between them. These observations have important implications in the shaping of the T cell repertoire for foreign proteins and in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity.


Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, has been proposed to result from the degeneration of synapses, putatively caused by assemblies of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). The spatiotemporal dynamics of this synaptopathy, its potential reversibility as well as its consequences on the function of single neurons and neuronal circuits, however, are not fully understood to date.
In order to address these questions, I assessed structural and functional alterations of neurons in the neocortex in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, namely APP/PS1 (APPswe, PS1L166P) mice, using in vivo two-photon imaging. Chronic imaging of dendrites and axons over the course of four weeks revealed not only a reduction in dendritic spine density close to amyloid plaques (proteinaceous extracellular deposits typical of AD), but I also identified synaptic instability as a main aspect contributing to AD pathology. Importantly, while synapse loss was confined to the immediate plaque vicinity (up to 15µm from the histological plaque border), synaptic instability was evident in a much larger region surrounding plaques (50 µm) and affected both, pre- and postsynaptic compartments.
As the prevailing hypothesis in AD holds that Aβ conveys these detrimental effects on synapses one therapeutic approach is based on the pharmacological inhibition of Aβ generation. I thus assessed the impact of a novel selective γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), a compound that prevents the last cleavage step necessary for the release of Aβ from the longer transmembrane amyloid precursor protein (APP). Notably, the GSI used here primarily interferes with the processing of APP and still allows for processing of other γ-secretase substrates, and hence should largely reduce side effects seen with earlier generations of GSIs before. Daily treatment with the GSI reduced the deposition of Aβ as evidenced by the initial reduction in the number of new plaques and a sustained decrease in the growth of these newly deposited plaques. Importantly, it also ameliorated the plaque-associated synaptic instability, without displaying overt adverse effects on dendritic spines in WT mice. These data represent the first in vivo evidence that selective pharmacological inhibition of the γ-secretase mediated APP cleavage can have beneficial effects on synaptic pathology in AD.

Given the widespread impact of Aβ assemblies on neuronal structures, I then asked to which extent these structural alterations affect the function of neurons. To address this question, I recorded neuronal response properties in the primary visual cortex of behaving APP/PS1 mice, employing in vivo two-photon calcium imaging using the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6m. In order to probe the impact of AD related pathology on specific aspects of information processing, which rely on multiple neuronal circuits, I characterized visually driven and motor-related activity, as well as signals based on mismatches between actual and expected visual input. My data reveal a massive reduction in responsiveness under almost all conditions tested, which is line with the profound impact on neuronal structure. Stimulus selectivity, like orientation or direction tuning, were not altered in APP/PS1 mice, indicating that the main effect is caused by a change in response gain. Along with the massive decrease in feedforward signals, I observed an increase in spontaneous, hence uncorrelated neuronal activity in AD transgenic mice. Both features jointly affected the coding accuracy of the network, and I propose that this combination may represent a common characteristic leading to impaired information processing in AD. Surprisingly, I found that responses elicited after a discordance of actual and expected visual flow during running, i.e. a visuomotor mismatch, were selectively spared in APP/PS1 mice, suggesting a particular resilience of this very signal. Together, both studies demonstrate that global widespread structural changes of neurons in the AD brain are accompanied by a severe impact on information processing, most prominently seen in a strong reduction of feedforward signals. My data, thus, provide a correlate of impaired cognition in AD at the level of single neurons and neural circuits.


In this study, the influence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on membrane fouling and cleaning efficiency was investigated during the microfiltration process of a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR). Two lab-scale SMBRs with different solids retention time (SRT) were operated and the variation of bound (or extractable) EPS in the activated sludge floc was observed in terms of total organic carbon and protein concentration of the extracted EPS solution. Experimental results showed that as SRT decreases, the amount of bound EPS in the activated sludge floc becomes higher. EPS had a positive influence on specific cake resistance to accelerate the membrane fouling. In order to clean the fouled membrane, de-ionized water flushing, chemical cleaning using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and the combination of water flushing and chemical cleaning were performed. The flux recovery rate was calculated to quantify the cleaning efficiency and a microscopic image using scanning electron microscopy was taken to visualize the cleaning effect. It was found that the water flushing was not highly effective at removing the EPS formed in the cake layer. The chemical cleaning of membrane by 5,000 ppm NaOCl for 3 hours could be more effective to eliminate EPS.


The Internet as an Issue for Onomastic and Medioonomastic StudiesPrevious onomastic research into proper names in the Internet has typically been based on tradition- al and classic onomastic methodology. As a result, researchers have focused on the classification of names, the analysis of their structure, etymology, or function. In this paper, this traditional approach is compared with the new possibilities afforded by medioonomastics, a fast growing method which is combining the onomastic tradition and mediolinguistics. This paper provides only an outline and is only preliminary, although some analysis is also presented. It reviews onomastic techniques and the medioonomastic analysis of the names that function within the various types of texts in the Internet. Some examples are taken from Internet memes, as well as from Facebook profiles. One of these names is the Polish given name, Janusz, which is a brilliant example of the specific new functions, connotations and general semantic values generated by the Internet. This name has gained a new meaning: 'a typical Polish man', 'unfashionable man', 'a redneck'. Another name is the title of the Facebook profile Chujowa Pani Domu, based on the TV-series Perfekcyjna Pani Domu, as a kind of semantic and pragmatic re-construction of the latter name. In the conclusion, the necessity of considering not only the type of object-named, but also the medium and especially the Internet, is emphasized. Such studies may offer a correct procedure for analysis which include the new medioonomastic methodology.


Membership inference attacks are one of the simplest forms of privacy leakage for machine learning models: given a data point and model, determine whether the point was used to train the model. Existing membership inference attacks exploit models' abnormal confidence when queried on their training data. These attacks do not apply if the adversary only gets access to models' predicted labels, without a confidence measure. In this paper, we introduce label-only membership inference attacks. Instead of relying on confidence scores, our attacks evaluate the robustness of a model's predicted labels under perturbations to obtain a fine-grained membership signal. These perturbations include common data augmentations or adversarial examples. We empirically show that our label-only membership inference attacks perform on par with prior attacks that required access to model confidences. We further demonstrate that label-only attacks break multiple defenses against membership inference attacks that (implicitly or explicitly) rely on a phenomenon we call confidence masking. These defenses modify a model's confidence scores in order to thwart attacks, but leave the model's predicted labels unchanged. Our label-only attacks demonstrate that confidence-masking is not a viable defense strategy against membership inference. Finally, we investigate worst-case label-only attacks, that infer membership for a small number of outlier data points. We show that label-only attacks also match confidence-based attacks in this setting. We find that training models with differential privacy and (strong) L2 regularization are the only known defense strategies that successfully prevents all attacks. This remains true even when the differential privacy budget is too high to offer meaningful provable guarantees.


Text classification has gained booming interest over the past few years. As a simple, effective and nonparametric classification method, KNN method is widely used in document classification. However, the uneven distribution in training set will affect the KNN classified result negatively. Moreover, the uneven distribution phenomenon of text is very common in documents on the Web. To tackling on this, this paper proposes an improved KNN method denoted by DBKNN. Experimental results show that the DBKNN algorithm can better serve classification requests for large sets of unevenly distributed documents.


While studies on popular culture have a more vast understanding of the impact of the participatory culture on experts and expertise, there is a dearth of literature on the impact of Web 2.0 on museums, which are established authorities within the cultural field. We aim to answer the following research question here: who are the experts and what is the nature of their expertise in the museum blogosphere? In addition, we look at the spatial culture on these museum blogs and its role in shaping expertise. We address this question by conducting a content analysis on a sample of the top ten ranked museum blogs, and find that new experts have entered the playing field and expertise is constructed in the personal and social context of an entertainment-oriented blogosphere.


Return-oriented programming (ROP) is an effective code-reuse attack in which short code sequences (i.e., gadgets) ending in a ret instruction are found within existing binaries and then executed by taking control of the call stack. The shadow stack, control flow integrity (CFI) and code (re)randomization are three popular techniques for protecting programs against return address overwrites. However, existing runtime rerandomization techniques operate on concrete return addresses, requiring expensive pointer tracking. By adding one level of indirection, we introduce BarRA, the first shadow stack mechanism that applies continuous runtime rerandomization to abstract return addresses for protecting their corresponding concrete return addresses (protected also by CFI), thus avoiding expensive pointer tracking. As a nice side-effect, BarRA naturally combines the shadow stack, CFI and runtime rerandomization in the same framework. The key novelty of BarRA, however, is that once some abstract return addresses are leaked, BarRA will enforce the burn-after-reading property by rerandomizing the mapping from the abstract to the concrete return address space in the order of microseconds instead of seconds required for rerandomizing a concrete return address space. As a result, BarRA can be used as a superior replacement for the shadow stack, as demonstrated by comparing both using the 19 C/C++ benchmarks in SPEC CPU2006 (totalling 2,047,447 LOC) and analyzing a proof-of-concept attack, provided that we can tolerate some slight binary code size increases (by an average of 29.44%) and are willing to use 8MB of dedicated memory for holding up to 220 return addresses (on a 64-bit platform). Under an information leakage attack (for some return addresses), the shadow stack is always vulnerable but BarRA is significantly more resilient (by reducing an attacker's success rate to $\frac{1}{2^{20}}$ on average). In terms of the average performance overhead introduced, both are comparable: 6.09% (BarRA) vs. 5.38% (the shadow stack).


This article analyses attitudes of the Lithuanian people towards refugees, and is based on the empirical research carried out at the Institute of Sociology, Lithuanian Social Research Centre, in 2016. Taking into consideration the results of the previous research on the factors that determine the attitudes towards refugees, this article looks at the peculiarities of the attitudes of the Lithuanian people. The article argues that people are very sceptical and concerned about refugees coming to Lithuania and, in particular, tend to place first the negative consequences of migration. The attitudes of the people are determined by general intolerance towards 'other' people, as well as by the negative image of the refugees created by the media.