A new way to calculate the internal inductance and resistance per unit length for an inhomogeneous conductor with arbitrary cross-sectional geometry is presented, based on the surface admittance boundary operator. The method is formulated in such a way, that the physical meaning of the internal impedance is clarified, as obtained by disregarding the external magnetic field. A comparison is made with the definitions known in literature to determine the internal impedance. In a number of numerical examples, the differences between those definitions are elucidated, and some physical properties of the internal impedance are investigated.


Fluorination is one of the effective approaches to alter the organic semiconductor properties that impact the performance of the organic solar cells (OSCs). Positive effects of fluorination are also revealed in the application of fused ring electron acceptors (FREAs). However, in comparison with the efforts allocated to the material designs and power conversion efficiency enhancement, understanding on the excitons and charge carriers' behaviors in high-performing OSCs containing FREAs is limited. Herein, the impact of fluorine substituents on the active layer morphology, and therefore exciton dissociation, charge separation, and charge carriers' recombination processes are examined by fabricating OSCs with PTO2 as the donor and two FREAs, O-IDTT-IC and its fluorinated analogue O-IDTT-4FIC, as the acceptors. With the presence of O-IDTT-4FIC in the devices, it is found that the excitons dissociate more efficiently, and the activation energy required to split the excitons to free charge carriers is much lower; the charge carriers live longer and suffer less extent of trap-assisted recombination; the trap density is 1 order of magnitude lower than that of the nonfluorinated counterpart. Overall, these findings provide information about the complex impacts of FREA fluorination on efficiently performed OSCs.


Photocaged (photoactivatable) biomolecules are powerful tools for noninvasive control of biochemical activities by light irradiation. DNAzymes (deoxyribozymes) are single-stranded oligonucleotides with a broad range of enzymatic activities. In this work, to construct photocaged DNAzymes, we developed a facile and mild postsynthetic method to incorporate an interesting photolabile modification (thioether-enol phosphate, phenol substituted, TEEP-OH) into readily available phosphorothioate DNA. Upon light irradiation, TEEP-OH transformed into a native DNA phosphodiester, and accordingly the DNAzymes with RNA-cleaving activities were turned "on" from its inactive and caged form. Activation of the TEEP-OH-caged DNAzyme by light was also successful inside live cells.


Hodgkin disease, or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), is a rare disease that affects mainly young adults; untreated, it is rapidly fatal, but modern medicine has rendered HL curable in more than 90% of all patients. It has gained clinical and scientific visibility and serves as a model for other cancers due to successful research related to its pathological classification, effective application of new molecular-genetic techniques, development of radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic innovations, pioneering concepts of interdisciplinary care, and introduction of the concept of randomized clinical studies.

From the 19th century until the early 1930s, treatments for HL ranged from palliative care to surgery, arsenic, and other natural compounds. In the middle of the 20th century, radiotherapy became the predominant treatment, offering a cure for localized stages. Since the 1970s, multidrug chemotherapy has been the mainstay of treatment, providing cures even in the case of far advanced, disseminated stages.

This fascinating medical and evolutionary story is captured in a superb book by Charlotte deCroes Jacobs, titled Henry Kaplan and the Story of Hodgkin's Disease.Jacobs' book reads like a historical play. The curtain opens on a large stage where the players perform their roles over 170 years in different acts and varying locations starting in London and moving to Stanford. The players fight, communicate, embark on risky but trail-blazing innovations, and either become heroes or disappear behind the curtains.

The main actors are Thomas Hodgkin and Henry Seymour Kaplan, brilliantly described and meticulously investigated by Jacobs in a well-designed mixture of careful studies of historical documents, personal insight, and sensitive interviews with family members, coworkers, and faculty colleagues. Jacobs strikes an honest and objective tone, as when she notes about Henry Kaplan, "most perceived only a few facets of the hundreds that constituted the mosaic of this enigmatic man, called a 'saint' by some, a 'malignant son of a bitch' by others."

Jacobs opens a very intimate window for her audience, revealing her personal insight into the delicate relationship and constant struggle between two men with astonishingly different personalities, Henry Kaplan and Saul Rosenberg. The two worked together for more than 20 years and were responsible for the many Stanford victories in radiotherapy, medical oncology, interdisciplinary patient care, and most importantly, the design and execution of prospective randomized clinical trials that have become the cornerstone of modern evidence-based medicine.

It is fascinating to follow Jacobs when she describes Henry Kaplan, a man intoxicated by science and driven to cure cancer, which he called his "Moby Dick." Kaplan loved his work and touched patients with great tenderness, but could devastate coworkers and colleagues with his sharp words. According to Jacobs, "Much of his success resulted from his remarkable self-confidence, bordering on a sense of his own infallibility." He had a great impact on the development of radiotherapy, becoming the world's leading radiotherapist, the coinventor of the medical linear accelerator, and he was the driving force and chair of the Rye Conference, a milestone for rapid progress in the biological, pathological, and clinical understanding of Hodgkin disease.

In her book, Jacobs traces primarily the American story of Hodgkin disease, as she highlights the work of other players on stage with Henry Kaplan, including Vince DeVita, the oncologist who developed the first combination chemotherapy — the MOPP regimen — a milestone for the curative treatment of advanced stages of HL. Jacobs only briefly acknowledges the contributions of European scientists, mentioning the prominent radiotherapists Smithers, Tubiana, and Musshoff, before turning again to North America to recall the great Canadian radiotherapist Vera Peters.

Although this book is nearly a must for young clinician-scientists training in radiation or medical oncology, it lacks a comprehensive and fair perspective of the developments in the history of Hodgkin disease that were in progress outside the US, paralleling those occurring in North America. Much of this work is mentioned rarely; for instance, that of Italian physician Gianni Bonadonna, who pioneered the US gold standard of HL chemotherapy, ABVD, is relegated to a single sentence. Jacobs fails to note the large studies of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG), which has been a leader in developing clinical studies in HL since 1978.

Jacobs also ignores the work to which a good deal of the molecular understanding of HL is owed: the molecular and genetic observations related to Reed-Sternberg cells and the successful cultivation of Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells in vitro accomplished by the Cologne group. These cell lines provided the original milestone for the international effort to define the molecular analysis of HL. They also led to the development of monoclonal antibodies against HL — antibodies Henry Kaplan wanted to produce as a "magic bullet" that would spare patients the toxicities of conventional therapies, a therapy for which Kaplan and Rosenberg worked so eagerly! In fact, this achievement was better appreciated by Henry Kaplan, who received cell lines from this author, than by his biographer. Given these limitations in its scope, this book might be more aptly titled, "Henry Kaplan and the Stanford Story of Hodgkin Disease."


Abstract: Ambulance waiting times across the UK have increased in recent years. The numbers of ambulance staff leaving services across the UK is increasing every year. Strategies to help recruit and retain all ambulance staff, including paramedics are important. This rapid evidence summary aimed to investigate what innovations can help with their recruitment and retention. Eight primary studies were identified: Recruitment: Evidence from a UK survey suggests that factors negatively influencing paramedic recruitment include competitive job market, lack of locally trained professionals, and newly qualified professionals starting with higher debt. Evidence from the US suggests that factors supporting recruitment concern future paramedics wanting to enter a caring profession or an exciting job. Additionally, strategies to recruit emergency medical technicians need to include the motivational aspects of growth, advancement, recognition, and responsibility. Evidence indicates that factors hindering recruitment of emergency medical technicians and/ or paramedics include rural working, and ambulance services not seen as a primary career path. Retention: Evidence from a UK survey suggests that pay, reward, stress and workload are factors that hinder paramedic retention. Evidence recommends retention strategies for paramedics, such as reviewing banding, improving work conditions and career progression, changing the way ambulances are dispatched to calls, and providing retention premiums. Evidence from the US suggests that pay, benefits, opportunities for advancement, continuous professional development, burnout, stress, workload, nearing retirement and career change are factors that influence retention of emergency medical technicians and/ or paramedics. Evidence from Thailand suggests that remuneration and professionalism are factors supporting paramedic retention. More up-to-date information is needed on the recruitment and retention of ambulance staff in UK settings. Further research providing a more detailed investigation of factors influencing recruitment and retention may be useful. The development or implementation of future strategies to help the recruitment and retention of paramedics and emergency medical technicians should be accompanied by a planned impact evaluation.


There are lessons from recent history of technology introductions which should not be forgotten when considering alternative energy technologies for carbon dioxide emission reductions. The growth of the ecological footprint of a human population about to increase from 7B now to 9B in 2050 raises serious concerns about how to live both more efficiently and with less permanent impacts on the finite world. One present focus is the future of our climate, where the level of concern has prompted actions across the world in mitigation of the emissions of CO_2. An examination of successful and failed introductions of technology over the last 200 years generates several lessons that should be kept in mind as we proceed to 80% decarbonize the world economy by 2050. I will argue that all the actions taken together until now to reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide will not achieve a serious reduction, and in some cases, they will actually make matters worse. In practice, the scale and the different specific engineering challenges of the decarbonization project are without precedent in human history. This means that any new technology introductions need to be able to meet the huge implied capabilities. An altogether more sophisticated public debate is urgently needed on appropriate actions that (i) considers the full range of threats to humanity, and (ii) weighs more carefully both the upsides and downsides of taking any action, and of not taking that action.


A new bicolored latex agglutination amoeba test (BLA) for detection of antibodies against Entamoeba histolytica was evaluated for its practicability and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. BLA is rapid (5 min) and simple to perform. It requires only 20 microliters of a 1/3-diluted serum, 17 microliters of reagent, and a glass slide. Reading of the test is easy because a positive result shows a green spot with a red surrounding edge. This bicolored pattern is easily distinguishable from the negative test result, which shows a homogeneous dark-brown spot. By using serum samples from 348 individuals, BLA was compared with immunofluorescence assay, indirect hemagglutination, and counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, and positive and negative predictive values of the four methods were almost identical. The results of this study indicate that BLA could be very useful both as a screening method for the diagnosis of invasive amoebiasis and for epidemiological purposes.


With primary total knee arthroplasty, there are three schools-of-thought about the patella: always resurface, never resurface or selectively resurface (bearing in mind the patient's articular cartilage, and patellofemoral congruence at the time of surgery). In Scandinavia, about 2% of patellas are resurfaced (according to knee arthroplasty registries), while in USA more than 90% of patients get a patellar button. Is this a genuine difference of opinion? Or is resurfacing the defensive option in a litigious climate, where a persistently painful knee might end up in court? A recent meta-analysis of 16 randomised controlled trials has shown no difference between resurfaced or nonresurfaced groups, as regards anterior knee pain and functional scores. We do not, it seems, yet understand why some patients experience anterior knee pain and others do not, regardless of their preoperative peripatellar conditions and patella resurfacing. Meanwhile, always resurface is doing a lot of unnecessary surgery. But what about isolated patellofemoral arthritis? Such patients present a particular difficulty. If conservative treatment proves unsuccessful, we have various other options, such as realignment procedures, arthroscopic debridement, patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA), total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and patellectomy. Recently, and because of secondgeneration prostheses, there has been renewed interest in patellofemoral joint replacement, for which there are good mid-term results. But it remains unclear, whether an isolated PFA does offer any advantage over a TKA? In this issue, Vasta et al make a systematic comparison between PFA and TKA. The overall survivorship rate of inlay design PFAs is 82%, with a mean follow-up of 89 months (all figures rounded). The survivorship rate of the latest generation onlay design PFAs is 95%, with a mean follow-up of 46 months. This seems to be an improvement, and compares favourably with TKA, but we still lack the requisite longterm data. In those patients where a PFA has been deemed correct, a major concern remains the later progression to all-compartment knee osteoarthritis. For the first generation of inlay design PFAs, progression to all compartment knee osteoarthritis occurred in 8% of knees. These patients would have been better off with an initial TKA instead of a PFA. Initial patient selection is important here, as are factors which affect the disease's progress. Patellofemoral osteoarthritis develops faster, for example, where there had been a pre-existing trochlear dysplasia as its underlying cause. For these reasons, TKA remains the 'gold standard', when operating on isolated patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis. This seems confirmed by Vasta et al's survey, at least for older patients. For younger patients, however, where more is demanded of the functioning knee, PFA remains a favourable option. Preserving the femorotibial compartments and cruciate ligaments will improve the gait and knee kinematics. And, overall, PFA is less invasive, quicker in the OR and faster for rehabilitation. Having said all this, the literature about PFA remains scarce, compared with the TKP resurfacing versus non-resurfacing debate. What can we learn from the latter? Several studies have shown that patellar denervation improves the visual analogue scores for pain, and the knee society scores. As for knee function scores, patellar denervation performs even better than patellar resurfacing For younger patients with isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis, the best solution might well be patellar debridement with denervation, combined with a trochlear prosthesis. This would obviate maltracking, overstuffing and other patellar implant complications. To the best of my knowledge, however, this combination has not been attempted. At this stage, I am afraid, we need more trials, more long-term evidence, etc.


We report a broadband reflectionless gradient random medium design and experimental implementation by using metamaterial technology. This gradient random medium matches the impedance of the air and gradually change its refraction index randomly, creating a puzzle for wave propagation in front of a metal conductor. Thus, such type of coating is expected to diffuse the reflection waves from a conductor metal. The implementation of such device needs, in our experiment, more than 30,000 different unit cells. Obviously, such large scale design and fabrication mask generation have been out of the scope of traditional manual production. We propose an automatical metamaterial design system, which made the implementation of gradient random medium possible and provide the technique of large scale metamaterial unit-cell design. The design is verified by the 2D near field scanning mapper measurement and the angular measurement. The measurement results show that the designed sample works well as we expected.


Introduction
Criticism has been levelled at research for its lack of impact on the coaching process. The origins of this theory-practice gap lie, in part, in the way coaching research has traditionally been undertaken – the coach has been treated as the "other" to be studied by the coaching "scientist". Consequently, methods that maintain an "objective" distance between researcher and participant have been popular. In addition, high-performance sport is often off limits to researchers, as coaches remain secretive about what they do in order to protect a perceived competitive advantage. Thus, when trying to advance a more authentic understanding of the complexities of real-world, high-performance coaching through, for example, ethnographic methods (where the researcher becomes part of the coaching context) various philosophical and practical challenges must be overcome. The purpose of this presentation is to explore these challenges.

Method
Following a mixed-methods, season-long, ethnographic case study of the coaching process in international rugby union, the researcher and coach engaged in a series of collaboratively reflexive interviews to reflect upon their experiences together. These were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. As part of the broader study, the data analysis was informed by the principles of grounded theory, which included inductive and deductive reasoning.

Findings
The findings highlight challenges and opportunities inherent in the coming together of coach and researcher in the coaching context, which serve to identify how the coaching process and research process were interrelated. Key themes to be discussed include continually negotiating access to the high performance context, trying to blend in as an "outsider", remaining flexible and influencing the data as a researcher. This presentation will take a pragmatic approach with the intention of highlighting implications for other researchers planning and undertaking of similar approaches. It is hoped that by reporting findings generated through collaboration and reflexivity the coach and researcher might be reframed as reciprocal allies to address the theory-practice gap.


In this study,tensional mechanical properties of sheet metal with different heating-lines after laser forming are investigated. The basic mechanical properties of material (such as elastic modulus, yield strength, ultimate strength, TEI (total elongation index) and EIU (elongation index of uniform)) with different spacing between neighbored heating-lines and different heating-lines number are presented. The stress-strain curves are complied with a modified Swift law, where the hardening coefficient and strain hardening exponent of material are controlled by strain. The influence of heating-lines number on tensional mechanical properties of material is greater than that of the spacing between neighbored heating-lines. The results show that all mechanical properties are related to the distribution of microstructure in heat-affected zone after laser forming.


This paper systematically derives design dimensions for the structured evaluation of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) approaches. These dimensions enable a descriptive characterization, facilitating comparisons between different study designs. They further structure the design space of XAI, converging towards a precise terminology required for a rigorous study of XAI. Our literature review differentiates between comparative studies and application papers, revealing methodological differences between the fields of machine learning, human-computer interaction, and visual analytics. Generally, each of these disciplines targets specific parts of the XAI process. Bridging the resulting gaps enables a holistic evaluation of XAI in real-world scenarios, as proposed by our conceptual model characterizing bias sources and trust-building. Furthermore, we identify and discuss the potential for future work based on observed research gaps that should lead to better coverage of the proposed model.


The recovery, transport and production of crude oil include challenges related to pipeline flow, separation and pressure drops occurring in the process, due to a vast array of indigenous molecules present in petroleum including bases, complex naphthenic acids and asphaltenes. The issues related to these molecules involve formation of kinetically stable emulsions, corrosion, naphthenate deposits, etc. Gaining a better understanding of their behaviour at the interface is therefore of interest in order to manage and minimize their negative influence.Calcium naphthenate deposits are produced due to the increase of pH induced by the depressurization from the reservoir to topside facilities. A substantial amount of the deposit is caused by a tetrameric acid (TA) called ARN, which forms a cross linked network at the interface with calcium ions from the water phase. A four-step method has been presented for determining the concentration of TA in crude oil by using an anion exchange cartridge and analysing by HPLC. The measured concentrations spanned from 0.1 to 30 ppm.A method for extracting basic nitrogen compounds from real crude oil samples has been developed. The bases are extracted using a cation-exchange sorbent and recovered by methyl amine. The selectivity was checked with a model system of known basic and non basic compounds. The method gives an extraction yield of 80-90 % from the majority of crude oils employed, although only around 70 % was recovered from an extra heavy sample.The surface and interfacial properties of the separated basic fraction was investigated with a Du Nouy ring and a Langmuir trough. The oil/water interfacial tension is governed by the basic molecules below pH 5, where the basic nitrogen is protonated. The bases are able to form a strong Langmuir film which appeared to be unaffected by pH, but highly dependent on salinity of the subphase. The behaviour of the basic fraction was compared with that of asphaltenes and maltenes. The similarities with the latter suggest that the bases may be a subfraction of the maltenes.Numerous problems are related to crude oil emulsions that are kinetically stable, due to indigenous surfactants in petroleum. The ability to stabilize emulsions was investigated for a model acidic asphaltene, C5Pe, hydrophobic silica particles and extracted asphaltenes. C5Pe described the asphaltene behaviour quite well both in similar solvent systems and at high pH. The results seemed to indicate that only a fraction of asphaltenes are responsible for the film forming properties. The particles displayed a behaviour different from that of the two other systems, showing no droplet coalescence after emulsification.The interfacial rheology of extracted asphaltenes was investigated by the oscillating droplet technique. The correlation with emulsion stability was not straight-forward. The elastic properties of the film appeared to be affected by diffusion and aggregation of asphaltenes at high bulk concentrations (≥ 0.1 g/l), causing a decrease in elasticity, while the emulsion stability increased in the same region. Similar trends in interfacial rheology and emulsion stability were observed when altering the pH or the solvent composition, which demonstrated the correlation between the macroscopic observable emulsion stability and the microscopic film properties.


BACKGROUND
Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) is only occasionally encountered in clinical practice. Therefore, the optimal clinical management for this condition is unknown.

METHODS
The medical records of patients who had PJI due to RGM during 1969-2006 were reviewed to summarize its clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome.

RESULTS
Eight patients developed 9 episodes of PJI (7 episodes involving the knee and 1 each involving the hip or elbow) due to RGM at a median of 312 weeks (range, 1-170 weeks) after prosthesis implantation. Patients presented with joint pain (7 patients), joint swelling (7 patients), and fever (3 patients), accompanied by an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (median, 70.5 mm/h) and C-reactive protein level (median, 6 mg/dL). Mycobacterium chelonae (n=3), Mycobacterium abscessus (n=2), Mycobacterium fortuitum (n=3), and Mycobacterium smegmatis (n=1) were isolated from the 9 infected joints. Seven of 9 prostheses were resected, whereas 2 were retained after surgical debridement. Six of 8 patients received > or = 1 active antimicrobial agent for at least 6 months. During a median follow-up period of 33 weeks (range, 2.6-326 weeks) after surgical intervention, no clinical or microbiological relapses were observed. Reimplantation was performed successfully for 2 of 6 patients who underwent resection arthroplasty. The 2 patients with retained prosthesis continued to receive prolonged courses of suppressive antimicrobial therapy.

CONCLUSIONS
RGM is a rare cause of PJI that should be suspected in patients with negative results of routine bacterial cultures. The combination of resection arthroplasty and antimicrobial therapy is the preferred approach. However, in cases involving retained prosthetic components, RGM infection may be suppressed with lifelong courses of effective antibiotic therapy.


In this first study, the corrosion behavior of the noble (Au, Pd, Rh, Cu, Ag, Pt, Ir) metals studied in 0.1M citric acid (CA), 10% carbamide peroxide (CP), artificial saliva (AS) and in the presence of CP, mouthwash (MW) and in presence of AS, and 0.1M NaCl solutions as oral solution. Electrochemical methods investigated with open circuit potential, impedance spectroscopy, current-potential and linear polarization measurements. Metal electrodes immersed in different oral solutions during a week for the determination of total metal cations. These cations analyzed by ICP-OES/MS. This article outline determined with corrosion tendencies of the noble metals and the amount of these ions passing through the human body. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that gold surface damaged in the presence of the CP. Additionally, the surface examined with EDS. It is concluded that the corrosion rate of noble metals increased in the presence of carbamide peroxide, due to the additional reactions pathways mediated by hydrogen peroxide anions. Keywords : Noble metals, Pilling-Bedworth, Hydrogen Peroxide, Artificial Saliva, Mouthwash DOI : 10.7176/JSTR/5-4-14


Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men (25% of men with prostate cancer will die of the disease). The most common method of detecting this malignancy is digital rectal examination (DRE). Current DRE training requires medical students to examine a large number of patients before attaining adequate experience. We propose to solve this problem using a virtual reality digital rectal examination simulation. The prototype system consists of a PHANToM haptic interface which provides feedback to the trainee's index finger, a motion restricting board and an SGI workstation, which renders the patient's anatomy in the region of interest. Four types of prostate were modeled using OpenGL and GHOST haptic library-normal, enlarged with no tumor, incipient malignancy (single tumor), and advanced malignancy (tumor cluster). Results of initial human factors studies are encouraging, while pointing out the need for more realistic physical modeling.


Breeding biology of the endangered Mauritius Olive White-eye Zosterops chloronothos ,the least known extant species of the endemic Mauritian avifauna, was studied for three consecutive breeding seasons between 1998 and 2001. Fifteen territories were monitored each year. Six nests were found and closely monitored. Prior to this study, only two nesting episodes had been documented. Nest observations revealed that both male and female were involved in incubation, brooding and feeding of the young at both the nestling and fledgling stage. One nest was successful (this being the first observation of a successful nest for this species) with fledging and juvenile dependency periods of 14 and 61 days, respectively. The remaining five nests were depredated, with evidence suggesting predation by the introduced Ship Rat Rattus rattus . Five breeding pairs each produced a single fledgling during the three-year period and no pair produced more than one fledgling. Targetted poisoning and trapping of nest predators on the main island of Mauritius and translocation of Olive White-eyes to predator-free islands should be implemented as conservation measures. Further ecological studies of the Mauritius Olive White-eye are sorely needed to direct conservation management of this declining species. Ostrich 2005, 76(1&2): 1–7


Introduction Up to 70% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) may require surgery at some point in their lives and it is estimated 39% may require several surgeries. Indications for surgery include failure of medical treatment, bowel obstruction, fistula or abscesss formation. The most common surgical procedure is resection. Smoking is a recognised risk factor for requiring surgery in Crohn's and also predicts post-operative recurrence. Method We aimed to examine the effect of tobacco smoking on the risk for surgery and it's influence on post-operative outcomes in patient with CD. We performed a retrospective analysis by initially identifying cases by interrogating the pathology database over a five year period from 2009 to 2013 and further data was then extracted by chart review. Results 152 resections took place over the study period, 6 of these had taken place on children and these were not analysed for smoking history. Median follow-up was 32 months (range 1 to 69 months). 31.5% (n = 46) of adults were active smokers at time of surgery. Among those having repeat resections 24.1% were active smokers. Smokers were more likely to have required emergency surgery than non-smokers (34.8% vs 30.0%). Median disease duration prior to surgery (among patients having first surgery) was shorter in the smoking group (2.5 vs 4 years). Smokers were more likely to have penetrating disease (32% vs 25.5%). The rate of steroid-free, further resection-free survival at end of follow up was higher for non-smokers (66% vs 63.0%). 68 patients had colonoscopies during follow-up, in 4 cases a Rutgeerts score could not be ascertained from the report. 43.8% (7/16) of smokers had endoscopic recurrence with Rutgeerts score i2 or greater compared to 45.8% (22/48) of non-smokers. Conclusion Compared to the background rate of smoking among adults in the UK (18.7%), smokers are over-represented in this CD surgery cohort. In this small, retrospective cohort smokers were more likely to have penetrating disease, come to surgery sooner and require emergency surgery than non-smokers. Outcomes were broadly similar for smokers and non-smokers with a minor benefit for achieving steroid free, further resection-free survival in the non-smoking group and slightly less endoscopic recurrence among smokers. The lower rate of smoking among those having repeat resections compared to first resections may indicate that a CD resection is a motivating factor to give up smoking. Disclosure of interest None Declared.


MOTIVATION
Automating the assignment of existing domain and protein family classifications to new sets of sequences is an important task. Current methods often miss assignments because remote relationships fail to achieve statistical significance. Some assignments are not as long as the actual domain definitions because local alignment methods often cut alignments short. Long insertions in query sequences often erroneously result in two copies of the domain assigned to the query. Divergent repeat sequences in proteins are often missed.

RESULTS
We have developed a multilevel procedure to produce nearly complete assignments of protein families of an existing classification system to a large set of sequences. We apply this to the task of assigning Pfam domains to sequences and structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). We found that HHsearch alignments frequently scored more remotely related Pfams in Pfam clans higher than closely related Pfams, thus, leading to erroneous assignment at the Pfam family level. A greedy algorithm allowing for partial overlaps was, thus, applied first to sequence/HMM alignments, then HMM-HMM alignments and then structure alignments, taking care to join partial alignments split by large insertions into single-domain assignments. Additional assignment of repeat Pfams with weaker E-values was allowed after stronger assignments of the repeat HMM. Our database of assignments, presented in a database called PDBfam, contains Pfams for 99.4% of chains >50 residues.

AVAILABILITY
The Pfam assignment data in PDBfam are available at http://dunbrack2.fccc.edu/ProtCid/PDBfam, which can be searched by PDB codes and Pfam identifiers. They will be updated regularly.


The Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus, exhibits a remarkable cycle of body weight, reproduction and leptin sensitivity in response to a seasonal change in photoperiod. In the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that the suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) plays a critical role in the regulation of the seasonal body weight cycle. We analysed arcuate nucleus SOCS3 gene expression in short day length (SD; 8 : 16 h light/dark) acclimated Siberian hamsters that were transferred back to long day length (LD; 16 : 8 h light/dark) and in hamsters that spontaneously became photorefractory to SD induced by prolonged exposure. SD acclimated hamsters that were transferred back to LD for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 weeks, increased arcuate nucleus SOCS3 gene expression to the LD level within 2 weeks, and maintained this higher level thereafter. The early increase of SOCS3 gene expression preceded the LD‐induced rise in body weight by approximately 3 weeks. Hamsters kept in SD for an extended period (25 weeks), began to become refractory to SD and to increase body weight. By this time, there was no difference in level of SOCS3 gene expression between LD and SD photoperiods, although body weight was still suppressed in SD hamsters. Finally, we addressed whether SOCS3 gene expression is related to SD‐induced gonadal regression or to body weight decrease by comparing Siberian hamsters with Syrian hamsters. The latter exhibited substantial SD‐induced gonadal regression but only limited seasonal changes in body weight. Acclimation to either LD or SD for 14 weeks had no effect on SOCS3 gene expression. This implies that arcuate nucleus SOCS3 gene expression is unlikely to be related to seasonal cycles in reproductive activity. Taken together, the findings further strengthen our hypothesis that SOCS3 may be one molecular trigger of seasonal cycles in body weight.


End-to-end communication service is critical to maximise both flexibility and performance on a Multi-Processor System-on-Chip (MPSoC). We introduce adaptive admission control to ensure fair bandwidth allocation to each processing node on an MPSoC platform. The results from the Matlab system model show good agreement with the experimental results from the HDL model. Consequently, the Matlab model can be used as an effective prototyping toolkit.


We present an efficient history-matching technique that simultaneously integrates 4D repeat seismic surveys with well-production data. This approach is particularly well-suited for the calibration of the reservoir properties of high-resolution geologic models because the seismic data are areally dense but sparse in time, whereas the production data are finely sampled in time but spatially averaged. The joint history matching is performed by use of streamline-based sensitivities derived from either finite-difference or streamline-based flow simulation. For the most part, earlier approaches have focused on the role of saturation changes, but the effects of pressure have largely been ignored. Here, we present a streamline-based semianalytic approach for computing model-parameter sensitivities, accounting for both pressure and saturation effects. The novelty of the method lies in the semianalytic sensitivity computations, making it computationally efficient for high-resolution geologic models. The approach is implemented by use of a finite-difference simulator incorporating the detailed physics. Its efficacy is demonstrated by use of both synthetic and field applications. For both the synthetic and the field cases, the advantages of incorporating the time-lapse variations are clear, seen through the improved estimation of the permeability distribution, the pressure profile, the evolution of the fluid saturation, and the swept volumes.


Macrophages contribute to fibrosis by releasing different mediators and the pattern of secretion may vary depending on the surrounding environment. We previously described that the mRNA expression of IFNγ was significantly higher in intestinal samples from CD patients. The aim of the present study is to analyze the role of IFNγ-treated macrophages in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT).

 The mRNA and protein expression of IFN in surgical resections from Crohn′s disease. U937 were differentiated to macrophages and then treated with IFNγ (2 ng/ml) for 4 days, the mRNA expression of macrophages markers were determined by RT-PCR. IFNγ-U937 were coculture with HT29 cells for 2 days and the expression of EMT markers in HT29 cells were analyzed by RT-PCR and WB. Results are expressed as mean±SEM (n≥5). Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA + Newman-Keuls.

 The mRNA and protein expression of IFNγ were significantly higher in intestinal samples from B2 CD patients (11.4±1.6 fold induction and 3.5±0.3 pg/mg, respectively) and B3 CD patients (14.2±1.8 fold induction and 3.1±0.1 pg/mg, respectively) than in controls (1,0±0,1 fold induction and 0.8±0,1 pg/mg, respectively). U937 cells treated with IFNγ increased significantly the mRNA expression of CD16 (1.9±0.2* vs vehicle) and CD86 (1.6±0.1* vs vehicle). IFNγ-U937 cocultured with HT29 increased significantly the mRNA and protein expression of EMT markers in HT29 cells (Vimentin: 3.0±0.5* vs vehicle-HT29; αSMA: 24.4±8.3* vs vehicle-HT29; SNAIL1: 2.7±0.5* vs vehicle-HT29) respect IFNγ-HT29 cells (Vimentin: 0.6±0.01 vs vehicle-HT29; αSMA: 1.1±0.4 vs vehicle-HT29; SNAIL1: 0.7±0.06 vs vehicle-HT29).

 IFNγ could be responsible for the increase in the number of CD86/CD16 macrophages in CD patients. A macrophage phenotype expressing CD86/CD16 may act as a source of EMT mediators in intestinal tissue from CD patients.


We report an experiment designed to identify the effect of elevated CO2 on species of phytoplankton in a simple laboratory system. Major taxa of phytoplankton differ in their ability to take up CO2, which might lead to predictable changes in the growth rate of species and thereby shifts in the composition of phytoplankton communities in response to rising CO2. Six species of phytoplankton belonging to three major taxa (cyanobacteria, diatoms and chlorophytes) were cultured in atmospheres whose CO2 concentration was gradually increased from ambient levels to 1000 parts per million over about 100 generations and then maintained for a further 200 generations at elevated CO2. The experimental design allowed us to trace a predictive sequence, from physiological features to the growth response of species to elevated CO2 in pure culture, from the growth response in pure culture to competitive ability in pairwise mixtures and from pairwise competitive ability to shifts in the relative abundance of species in the full community of all six species. CO2 altered the dynamics of growth in a fashion consistent with known differences among major taxa in their ability to take up and use CO2. This pure‐culture response was partly successful in predicting the outcome of competition in pairwise mixtures, especially the enhanced competitive ability of chlorophytes relative to cyanobacteria, although generally statistical support was weak. The competitive response in pairwise mixtures was a good predictor of changes in competitive ability in the full community. Hence, there is a potential for forging a logical chain of inferences for predicting how phytoplankton communities will respond to elevated CO2. Clearly further extensive experiments will be required to validate this approach in the greater complexity found in diverse communities and environments of natural systems.


During April and May 2013, a total of 1057 km2 of LiDAR was flown by NCALM for a consortium of archaeologists working in West-central Belize, making this the largest surveyed area within the Mayan lowlands. Encompassing the Belize Valley and the Vaca Plateau, West-central Belize is one of the most actively researched parts of the Maya lowlands; however, until this effort, no comprehensive survey connecting all settlement had been conducted. Archaeological projects have investigated at least 18 different sites within this region. Thus, a large body of archaeological research provides both the temporal and spatial parameters for the varied ancient Maya centers that once occupied this area; importantly, these data can be used to help interpret the collected LiDAR data. The goal of the 2013 LiDAR campaign was to gain information on the distribution of ancient Maya settlement and sites on the landscape and, particularly, to determine how the landscape was used between known centers. The data that were acquired through the 2013 LiDAR campaign have significance for interpreting both the composition and limits of ancient Maya political units. This paper presents the initial results of these new data and suggests a developmental model for ancient Maya polities.


In this research Technical Note the author has presented a novel method to find all Possible Clusters given a set of M points in N Space.


Objective In Iran, self-immolation is the third leading cause of years of life lost among women, after disasters and breast cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate pre-existing psychiatric disorders in self-immolation patients. Methods In a case–control study, 30 consecutive cases of deliberate self-inflicted burns admitted to the regional Burn centre (Imam Khomeini hospital in Kermanshah province, Iran) were compared with 30 controls who were selected from the community and matched by sex, age and living area. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM IV-TR) Axis I (clinical disorders) and Axis II (personality and mental retardation) diagnoses were assessed via detailed clinical interview. Results Descriptive data concerning Axis I disorders revealed that 67% of self-immolation patients had adjustment disorder (all of these patients were female), 10% drug and alcohol abuse/dependence (all of these patients were male), 7% dysthymia, 3% major depression, 3% anorexia nervosa and 3% primary insomnia. 75% of male self-immolation patients were diagnosed with drug and alcohol dependence or abuse. 77% of female self-immolation patients were diagnosed with adjustment disorder. Descriptive review of Axis II disorders revealed that 7% self-immolation patients had Borderline Personality Disorder (50% male), 7% Depressive Personality Disorder (100% female) and 3% Antisocial Personality Disorder. In bivariate comparisons, Adjustment disorders emerged as related to risk of self-immolation (OR 13.00, 95% CI 3.55 to 47.60). The comparisons of other clinical disorders were not statistically significant, although there was a strong trend for higher rates of mental illness among the self-immolation patients compared to the control group. Conclusion This study suggests that adjustment disorder is a risk factor for self-immolation, overall. More broadly, psychopathology presents an increased risk of self-immolation. In male patients, drug abuse/dependency, antisocial personality disorder and depressive personality disorder increased the risk of self-immolation. Among females, adjustment disorders and depressive disorders increased the risk. As a result, it has been suggested that increasing the education level about problem-solving approaches, and coping skills for females, and drug/behaviour therapy for males of at risk groups are appropriate prevention programs and strategies in Iranian communities.


With 3D Computer Aided Design I have divided 12 unit radius icosahedral polyhedra into sets of 'symmetry units' represented in software as blocks containing graphic elements. These 12 polyhedral systems' radii are assigned a length to match a musical note's position in a chromatic scale. Combining these polyhedral system notes creates and names a chord consisting of concentric polyhedra (matroyska domes). To paint these objects I use a recursive self texturing technique. With 3D path and turntable animation tools I create movies: visual songs or intonations that document what a virtual camera sees as it transits "In, Out and Around" this menagerie of painted forms. !! Introduction !


The response modification (R) factor serves a main function in the seismic design of building structures nowadays and is considered to be one of the seismic design parameters in the process of equivalent static analysis. In the last two decades, the application of damper systems as earthquake energy dissipation systems in structures has increased. However, an extensive review of the related literature indicates that the effect of the viscous damper on the response modification factor of steel and reinforced concrete structures has not been investigated. Framed by this context, the current study investigates the effect of implementing a viscous damper device in steel and reinforced concrete structures on the response modification factor. In this research, steel and reinforced concrete structures with numerous stories were considered to evaluate the value of the response modification factor, which was formulated based on the following three aspects: strength, ductility, and redundancy factors. Structural frames were designed according to the UBC 1994 and IBC 2012 codes, and non-linear static analysis was conducted with the guidance of previous studies, such as the Applied Technology Council (ATC) 19 and ATC 40. Nonlinear static analysis was performed using a finite element software, which considered structural models equipped with viscous damper devices in different arrangements. The bilinear approximation of the actual push-over curve was used to evaluate the required parameters, such as the base shear at yield point (Results showed that the response modification factor of steel and reinforced concrete structures equipped with viscous dampers is higher than that of structures without viscous dampers. To verify the numerical analysis and formulation, experimental tests were conducted for the steel and reinforced concrete models, as well as the ARCS3D used for the reinforced concrete models. According to the experimental results and comparisons for the proposed response modification factor, using energy dissipation systems has an effective influence on the response modification factor and leads to a response modification factor with a higher value. Based on the analytical results for all the different cases, the equations proposed for determining the response modification factor of the steel and reinforced concrete structures were furnished by viscous dampers according to the value of the damping coefficient and number of stories.


BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY
Oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists is effective for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events. Recent systematic reviews have shown that self-monitoring improved the quality of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT), with patients spending more time in the therapeutic range than traditionally monitored patients, and with a concomitant decrease in the incidence of adverse effects. However, methodological and reporting heterogeneity has limited the strength of the reviews' conclusions. Differences were noted in terms of the assessment of outcome measures and the analysis methods used. For instance, not all used an intention-to-treat analysis, which may have over-inflated the results. Interpretation was limited by missing data: for example, it was not possible to combine mean tests in range, mean time in range, or to determine the level of deviant values. Time-to-event data (e.g., death, thromboembolic events) were reported as numbers of events, which prevented adequate analysis. In order to overcome these limitations and allow further investigation of the data, the study aim is to undertake an Individual Patient Data (IPD) meta-analysis.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN
The IPD analysis will include data from randomized trials that have compared self-monitoring (self-testing or self-management) OAT versus a control group, and that measured adverse events defined as major hemorrhage, thromboembolism, and death. The data to be requested for each trial will include: outcomes, demographic and psychosocial (e.g., quality of life) data. The primary outcomes of interest will be time to major hemorrhage, thromboembolism, and death. The secondary outcomes will be minor hemorrhage, percentage time within range, percentage tests within range, and patient satisfaction. The primary analysis will be by intention to treat, and multilevel models with patients and trials as the two levels, will be explored to investigate treatment effects on various outcomes. Patient-level covariates will be incorporated into the models in an attempt to account for statistical heterogeneity, as well as to investigate interactions with treatment effect.

CONCLUSION
Predictive models should lead to the identification of those most likely to benefit from self-monitoring of oral anticoagulation, and potentially also to a targeted and a more cost-effective use of the intervention.


Polarization states of the underwater light field were measured by a hyperspectral and multiangular polarimeter and a video polarimeter under various atmospheric, surface, and water conditions, as well as solar and viewing geometries, in clear oceanic waters near Port Aransas, Texas. Some of the first comprehensive comparisons were made between the measured polarized light, including the degree and angle of linear polarization and linear Stokes parameters (Q and U), and those from Monte Carlo simulations that used concurrently measured water inherent optical properties and particle volume scattering functions as input. For selected wavelengths in the visible spectrum, measured and model-simulated polarization characteristics were found to be consistent in most cases. Measured degree and angle of linear polarization are found to be largely determined by an in-water single-scattering model. Model simulations suggest that the degree of linear polarization (DoLP) at horizontal viewing directions is highly dependent on the viewing azimuth angle for a low solar elevation. This implies that animals can use the DoLP signal for orientation.


During receptor-mediated endocytosis, AP2 complexes act as a bridge between the cargo membrane proteins and the clathrin coat by binding to sorting signals via the μ2 subunit and to clathrin via the β subunit. Here we show that binding of AP2 to sorting signals in vitro is regulated by phosphorylation of the μ2 subunit of AP2. Phosphorylation of μ2 enhances the binding affinity of AP2 for sorting motifs as much as 25-fold compared with dephosphorylated AP2. The recognition of sorting signals was not affected by the phosphorylation status of the α or β2 subunit, suggesting that phosphorylation of μ2 is critical for regulation of AP2 binding to sorting signals. Phosphorylation of μ2 occurs at a single threonine residue (Thr-156) and is mediated by the newly discovered adaptor-associated kinase, AAK1, which copurifies with AP2. We propose that phosphorylation of the AP2 μ2 subunit by AAK1 ensures high affinity binding of AP2 to sorting signals of cargo membrane proteins during the initial steps of receptor-mediated endocytosis.


Single shot Positronium annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (SSPALS) is a technique that records 1iAi¼10i½^7 Positronium(Ps) atoms annihilating into gamma rays in a single shot from a positron accumulator. Here, SSPALS is combined for the first time with ns tunable lasers to study the electronic structure and emission of Ps atoms from solid surfaces. In our experiment the injection of a high density positron pulse into a target surface produces Ps atoms in vacuum which interacts immediately with the pulsed dye laser at 0.16T at 243nm. In our investigation the Ps kinetic energy along the surface of the sample decreased with increasing implantation energies and a lower limit of Ex=42iA3 meV was discovered. The lower limit of the Ps kinetic energies corresponds to the region in which the Ps de Broglie wavelength approaches the pore diameteri¯s of the target sample. As a result a classical model can no longer be used to describe the energy loss mechanism. Instead we find the lower limit values in agreement with the quantum confinement model. In additional studies, the excitation of the 1S-2P transition for Ps was explored in the Paschen Back Regime (high magnetic field) of 2T. This investigation has found that Zeeman mixing of the 2P states is reduced in high magnetic fields. In the event of reduced mixing in the 2P state, which reduces conversion of triplet state Ps atoms into singlet state Ps atoms, this may result in the possibility of laser cooling Ps atoms using multiple pulsed laser events. We also measured the Positronium speed distribution perpendicular to the sample using copper and silicon as our target with time of flight. We used a two step, two photon excitation to the Rydberg states to enable single Rydberg atom annihilation to be detected using a multi-channel plate located 1.7m away from the target surface. We observed the Ps atomi¯s kinetic energy to have a thermal Maxwell-Boltzmann speed distribution centered around 350,000 m/s, which is non- monoenergetic. This constitutes the first measurement of the kinetic energies perpendicular to the sample and demonstrates the need for further studies of Ps kinetic energies perpendicular and parallel to the sample.


Computational Intelligence CI models comprise robust computing methodologies with a high level of machine learning quotient. CI models, in general, are useful for designing computerized intelligent systems/machines that possess useful characteristics mimicking human behaviors and capabilities in solving complex tasks, e.g., learning, adaptation, and evolution. Examples of some popular CI models include fuzzy systems, artificial neural networks, evolutionary algorithms, multi-agent systems, decision trees, rough set theory, knowledge-based systems, and hybrid of these models. This special issue highlights how different computational intelligence models, coupled with other complementary techniques, can be used to handle problems encountered in image processing and information reasoning.


Some glacial and aeolian geomorphological features express themselves as parallel lineaments on satellite images. These landforms represent readily available evidence for reconstructing Quaternary environments, and are believed to have preserved in their morphometry, evidence of their formation. Drumlins, megatlutes, tlutes and mega-lineaments are typical examples of glacial lineaments, while linear sand dunes are examples of aeolian lineaments. The main aim of this thesis was to develop an objective method of characterising the spacing between parallel glacial and aeolian lineaments and to attempt to answer some geomorphological questions about them. The method of spectral analysis based on fourier transformation was used. Spectral analysis on radiometric transects taken perpendicular to the trend of parallel lineaments on satellite images permits the spacing between these lineaments to be assessed and thus the dominant spatial frequency to be determined. This provides a quick and efficient method of morphometric analysis. A methodology for doing this has been established and applied to examples of large scale ice moulded landforms in Canada and aeolian linear sand dunes from the Kalahari desert. Analysis of the spacings obtained showed that for the case of aeolian lineaments in the study area, there was no significant trend in spacing up or downwind indicating equilibrium in spacing in the overall dunefield. The analysis of the spatial frequency of glacial lineaments established that a significant relationship existed between lineament spatial frequencies and inferred velocities and that the behaviour of the spacing is systematic up/down ice. An important result obtained from analysing these lineaments was that the spatial distribution showed a concentration of spacing at a particular range of frequencies (150 to 750 metres) proving that the distribution of the landforms is not multimodal as has been previously hypothesised but is scale continuous.


The motion of [100](010) screw dislocations via a kink-pair mechanism is investigated in high-pressure MgSiO3 perovskite by means of atomistic calculations and an elastic interaction model for kink nucleation. Atomistic calculations based on the nudged elastic band method provide the Peierls potential, which is shown to be dynamically asymmetric and stress dependent. The elastic interaction model adjusted to match kink width computed atomistically, is used to evaluate the critical nucleation enthalpy. We demonstrate that the kink-pair mechanism in MgSiO3 perovskite is controlled by the nucleation of kinks along the [100] screw dislocation.


Background
Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive human Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) has recently developed as a noninvasive serum marker of liver fibrosis. Liver transplant candidates usually have high serum levels of M2BPGi due to advanced cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the kinetics of serum M2BPGi after liver transplantation and the relationships between the level of M2BPGi and graft function.

Methods
Fifteen recipients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) between June 2015 and January 2016 and whose pretransplant, postoperative day (POD) 1, POD 3, and POD 7 sera were available for measuring M2BPGi were enrolled in this study. Small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) was defined as the presence of cholestasis (total bilirubin >10 mg/dL) on POD 7 and intractable ascites (>1 L/day on POD 14 or >500 ml/day on POD 28) without other specific causes.

Results
The median of pretransplant M2BPGi was 9.75 cutoff index (C.O.I.) (range, 3.04-24.49). There was neither any correlation between pretransplant M2BPGi and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores (r=0.416, P=0.123) nor Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores (r=-0.221, P=0.428). The levels of M2BPGi dramatically decreased after LDLT (median; 1.48 on POD 1, 1.47 on POD 3, 1.49 on POD 7). However, serum levels of M2BPGi rose again on POD 7 in some recipients and all 4 recipients with serum levels of M2BPGi exceeding 3.00 C.O.I. succumbed to SFSS later. When the cutoff of M2BPGi on POD 7 for predicting SFSS was determined to be 3.06 according to its receiver operating characteristic curve, both the sensitivity and the specificity for predicting later SFSS were 100%.

Conclusions
The levels of M2BPGi dramatically decreased after LDLT. A re-rise of M2BPGi predicted later development of SFSS.


Multidimensional databases are beginning to be used in a wide range of applications. To meet this fast-growing demand, the R-tree family is being applied to support fast access to multidimensional data, for which the R+-tree exhibits outstanding search performance. In order to support efficient concurrent access in multi-user environments, concurrency control mechanisms for multidimensional indexing have been proposed. However, these mechanisms cannot be directly applied to the R+-tree because an object in the R+-tree may be indexed in multiple leaves. This paper proposes a concurrency control protocol for R-tree variants with object clipping, namely, Micro level Locking for clIPping indexing (MLIP). MLIP is the first concurrency control approach specifically designed for the R+-tree and its variants, and it supports efficient concurrent operations with serializable isolation, consistency, and deadlock-free. Experimental tests on both real and synthetic data sets validated the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed concurrent access framework. Keywords-Micro level locking; serializable; concurrent operations; clipping Indexing


Word of mouth (WOM) plays an important role in one's daily life, especially in the tourism industry. With the development of information communication technologies, WOM has developed into electronic word of mouth, also referred to as eWOM. This study examines the influence of eWOM on tourists' behavioral intentions to choose a particular tourism destination. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is utilized to investigate how eWOM influences Chinese tourists' intention to visit Thailand. This study is based on non-probability convenience sampling where primary data were collected from 400 respondents who relied on tourists' online comments about their travel experiences to plan their trip to Thailand in the last six months. Research objectives of this study are to study the relationship between eWOM and Chinese tourists' decision-making influence factors to visit Thailand, and to investigate how eWOM affects Chinese tourists' intention to travel in Thailand. The results show that eWOM significantly affect tourists' behavioral intention toward visiting Thailand by affecting their attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). This thesis adopted the cross-sectional research methodology because of time limitations and no financial support from outside. In addition, this thesis focused on Chinese tourists only. Different countries have their own characteristics and cultures, and the results or conclusions of this study cannot be applied to other countries. The findings of this study will help tourism organizations and marketers based in China and Thailand to realize that using eWOM is becoming a major trend for Chinese tourists when planning a so-called Do-It-Yourself (DIY) trip.


It is common in regression discontinuity analysis to control for third, fourth, or higher-degree polynomials of the forcing variable. There appears to be a perception that such methods are theoretically justified, even though they can lead to evidently nonsensical results. We argue that controlling for global high-order polynomials in regression discontinuity analysis is a flawed approach with three major problems: it leads to noisy estimates, sensitivity to the degree of the polynomial, and poor coverage of confidence intervals. We recommend researchers instead use estimators based on local linear or quadratic polynomials or other smooth functions.


Before the nineteenth century, American prisons were used to hold people for trial and not to incarcerate them for wrong-doing. Only after independence did American states begin to reject such public punishment as whipping and pillorying and turn to imprisonment instead. In this legal, social, and political history, Adam J. Hirsch explores the reasons behind this change. Hirsch draws on evidence from throughout the early Republic and examines European sources to establish the American penitentiary's ideological origins and parallel development abroad. He focuses on Massachusetts as a case study of the transformation and presents in-depth data from that state. He challenges the notion that the penitentiary came as a by-product of Enlightenment thought, contending instead that the ideological foundations for criminal incarceration had been laid long before the eighteenth century and were premised upon old criminological theories. According to Hirsch, it was not new ideas but new social realities-the increasing urbanization and population mobility that promoted rampant crime-that made the penitentiary attractive to post-revolutionary legislators. Hirsch explores possible economic motives for incarcerating criminals and sentencing them to hard labor, but concludes that there is little evidence to support this. He finds that advocates of the penitentiary intended only that the prison pay for itself through enforced labor. Moreover, prison advocates frequently involved themselves in other contemporary social movements that reflected their concern to promote the welfare of criminals along with other oppressed groups.


The proximal‐distal patterning of lung epithelium involves a complex series of signaling and transcriptional events resulting in the programmed differentiation of highly specialized cells for gas exchange and surfactant protein expression essential for postnatal lung function. The BMP signaling pathway has been shown to regulate cellular differentiation in the lung as well as other tissues. In this report, we show that the can family of related BMP antagonists, including gremlin, cer‐1, PRDC, and Dan are expressed in the lung during embryonic development with gremlin expression observed in the proximal airway epithelium. The role of gremlin in lung development was explored by overexpressing it in the distal lung epithelium of transgenic mice using the human SP‐C promoter. SP‐C/gremlin transgenic mice exhibited a disruption of the proximal‐distal patterning found in the airways of the mammalian lung. Expanded expression of the proximal epithelial cell markers CC10 and HFH‐4 (Foxj1) was observed in the distal regions of transgenic lungs. Furthermore, smooth muscle α‐actin expression was observed surrounding the distal airways of SP‐C/gremlin mice, indicating a proximalization of distal lung tubules. These data suggest that gremlin plays an important role in lung morphogenesis by regulating the proximal‐distal patterning of the lung during development. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


abstract:How important is the enforcement of political rights in new democracies? The authors use the enfranchisement of the emancipated slaves following the American Civil War to study this question. Critical to their strategy, black suffrage was externally enforced by the United States Army in ten Southern states during Reconstruction. The authors employ a triple-difference model to estimate the joint effect of enfranchisement and its enforcement on taxation. They find that counties with greater black-population shares that were occupied by the military levied higher taxes compared to similar nonoccupied counties. These counties later experienced a comparatively greater decline in taxation after the troops were withdrawn. The authors also demonstrate that in occupied counties, black politicians were more likely to be elected and political murders by white supremacist groups occurred less frequently. The findings provide evidence on the key role of federal troops in limiting elite capture by force during this period.


This report discusses the general performance characteristics of three special classes of radiators: those with flat plate water tubes, fin and tube types, and types that whistle in an air stream. Curves and tables show the performance of representative radiators of each class and compare the flat plate and whistling types. Empirical equations are given for estimating the performance of flat plate radiators of various dimensions. This report also contains a brief discussion, with curves, showing the effect of yawing on the properties of a radiator.


Mount Everest has the highest peak in the world. Since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary first climbed the mountain over 60 years ago, over 3,000 people have proudly stood on its summit. Every year, thousands of climbers ascend the mountain, which is 8,848 meters high. Climbing the mountain has become an adventurous industry. Different records have been put, such as the first Saudi woman to climb the mountain in 2013, the first wedding, the first Harlem shake, and the first video call, among others (Anup, 2017). However, excessive tourism has brought both positive and negative impacts on the mountain, with the most significant impact on the environment. However, though tourism has had a tremendous economic impact due to the foreign exchange earned, it has negatively affected the environment, mainly because of the garbage left on the mountain.


Aim: Although antibiotics are generally well-tolerated, they may have cytotoxic effects. The present randomized, double-blind, in vitro study aimed to investigate the effects of tigecycline on cartilage tissue cells and the extracellular matrix. Material and Methods: Cartilage tissues of patients (n = 8) were used for the preparation of primary cell cultures. Tigecycline-treated cell cultures served as the study group. Non-treated cell cultures served as the control group. Analyses were performed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h in both groups. The results obtained were statistically evaluated. The alpha significance value was determined to be 0.05. Results: Proliferation remained unchanged in the tigecycline-treated cell cultures. The gene expressions of the markers involved in anabolic pathways increased in the tigecycline-treated cell cultures. The results obtained were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Although tigecycline had no toxic effect on the chondrocyte cell cultures and caused no damage to the extracellular matrix, the present study was performed in an in vitro environment.


The serrated pathway to colorectal tumor formation involves oncogenic mutations in the BRAF gene, which are sufficient for initiation of hyperplastic growth but not for tumor progression. A previous analysis of colorectal tumors revealed that overexpression of splice variant Rac1b occurs in around 80% of tumors with mutant BRAF and both events proved to cooperate in tumor cell survival. Here, we provide evidence for increased expression of Rac1b in patients with inflamed human colonic mucosa as well as following experimentally induced colitis in mice. The increase of Rac1b in the mouse model was specifically prevented by the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen, which also inhibited Rac1b expression in cultured HT29 colorectal tumor cells through a cyclooxygenase inhibition–independent mechanism. Accordingly, the presence of ibuprofen led to a reduction of HT29 cell survival in vitro and inhibited Rac1b-dependent tumor growth of HT29 xenografts. Together, our results suggest that stromal cues, namely, inflammation, can trigger changes in Rac1b expression in the colon and identify ibuprofen as a highly specific and efficient inhibitor of Rac1b overexpression in colorectal tumors. Our data suggest that the use of ibuprofen may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with serrated colorectal tumors or with inflammatory colon syndromes.


New algorithm for quantifying the variation in the QT interval of ECG recording is presented. The algorithm is based on the principal component regression where the eigenvectors of the data correlation matrix are calculated. The eigenvectors are then used for calculation of the principal components and one of them is selected to represent the information about T wave variation. The algorithm is tested using high speed ECG recording


The speed and efficiency with which PAs can see patients and the quality of the health care they can deliver are often greatly determined by the cooperation of the nursing staff with whom they work. To evaluate nurses' attitudes toward PAs, a survey was conducted in two hospitals, one of which employed no PAs. The results of the study indicate that nurses who have experience working with PAs or have an understanding of the role of the PA in the health care system have more positive attitudes toward them than those nurses who do not have such knowledge or experience.


Purpose: Cytochrome P450 2W1 (CYP2W1) is a monooxygenase detected in 30% of colon cancers, whereas its expression in nontransformed adult tissues is absent, rendering it a tumor-specific drug target for development of novel colon cancer chemotherapy. Previously, we have identified duocarmycin synthetic derivatives as CYP2W1 substrates. In this study, we investigated whether two of these compounds, ICT2705 and ICT2706, could be activated by CYP2W1 into potent antitumor agents. Experimental Design: The cytotoxic activity of ICT2705 and ICT2706 in vitrowas tested in colon cancer cell lines expressing CYP2W1, and in vivo studies with ICT2706 were conducted on severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing CYP2W1-positive colon cancer xenografts. Results: Cells expressing CYP2W1 suffer rapid loss of viability following treatment with ICT2705 and ICT2706, whereas the CYP2W1-positive human colon cancer xenografts display arrested growth in themice treated with ICT2706. The specific cytotoxic metabolite generated by CYP2W1metabolism of ICT2706 was identified in vitro. The cytotoxic events were accompanied by an accumulation of phosphorylated H2A.X histone, indicating DNA damage as a mechanism for cancer cell toxicity. This cytotoxic effect is most likely propagated by a bystander killing mechanism shown in colon cancer cells. Pharmacokinetic analysis of ICT2706 in mice identified higher concentration of the compound in tumor than in plasma, indicating preferential accumulation of drug in the target tissue. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a novel approach for treatment of colon cancer that uses a locoregional activation of systemically inactive prodrug by the tumor-specific activator enzyme CYP2W1. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 2952–61. 2013 AACR.


A new species of extinct conifer plants, Emporia royalii sp. nov. Hernandez‐Castillo, Stockey, Mapes et Rothwell (Emporiaceae: Voltziales), is described from the rich fossil biota of the Late Pennsylvanian, Hamilton Quarry, Kansas. This conifer has lateral plagiotropic branches with simple and forked leaves, "age‐dependent heterophylly," simple pollen cones, and compound ovulate cones. Stems have an endarch eustele, dense wood, and secretory cells arranged in nests or plates in the pith. Leaves are amphistomatic with two adaxial stomatal bands and two longitudinal abaxial rows of stomata with numerous trichome bases. Pollen cones are simple and have helically arranged microsporophylls with adaxial pollen sacs. Prepollen is monolete and monosaccate (Potonieisporites Bharadwaj). Ovulate cones are compound with bilaterally symmetrical axillary dwarf shoots that bear up to 45 sterile scales and 1–2 sporophylls and occur in the axils of helically arranged bracts with forked tips. Ovules are inverted and winged and resemble those of Emporia lockardii and Emporia cryptica. Emporia royalii is compared to other Euramerican walchian Voltziales, and a summary of the Emporiaceae and evolution of Paleozoic conifers is given. This is the fifth species of extinct conifer plants to be reconstructed from the Hamilton Quarry, making it the only Paleozoic locality in the world with numerous conifers all of which have been characterized as complete or nearly complete plants.


A daily gridded precipitation dataset for 1961-2004 was created by collecting rain gauge observation data across Asia through the activities of the Asian Precipitation—Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards the Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) project. Our number of valid stations was between 5000 and 12,000, representing 2.3 to 4.5 times the data available through the Global Telecommunication System network, which were used for most daily grid precipitation products. APHRODITE's daily gridded precipitation (APHRO_V0902) is the only long-term (1961 onward) continental-scale daily product that contains a dense network of daily rain gauge data for Asia including the Himalayas and mountainous areas in the Middle East. The product contributes to studies such as the evaluation of Asian water resources, diagnosis of climate change, statistical downscaling, and verification of numerical model simulation and high-resolution precipitation estimates using satellites. We released APHRO_V0902 datasets for Monsoon Asia, Russia and the Middle East (on 0.5° × 0.5° and 0.25° × 0.25° grids) at http://www.chikyu.ac.jp/precip/. Herein, we show the algorithm and input data of APHRO_V0902.


This paper presents a quantitative comparison of several segmentation methods (including new ones) that have successfully been used in traffic sign recognition. The methods presented can be classified into color-space thresholding, edge detection, and chromatic/achromatic decomposition. Our support vector machine (SVM) segmentation method and speed enhancement using a lookup table (LUT) have also been tested. The best algorithm will be the one that yields the best global results throughout the whole recognition process, which comprises three stages: 1) segmentation; 2) detection; and 3) recognition. Thus, an evaluation method, which consists of applying the entire recognition system to a set of images with at least one traffic sign, is attempted while changing the segmentation method used. This way, it is possible to observe modifications in performance due to the kind of segmentation used. The results lead us to conclude that the best methods are those that are normalized with respect to illumination, such as RGB or Ohta Normalized, and there is no improvement in the use of Hue Saturation Intensity (HSI)-like spaces. In addition, an LUT with a reduction in the less-significant bits, such as that proposed here, improves speed while maintaining quality. SVMs used in color segmentation give good results, but some improvements are needed when applied to achromatic colors.


Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a key technique to achieve green design. But it isn't applied widely because of its defects. In order to enhance the operability of LCA in green design, a LCA tool, named green product life cycle design (GPLCD) is described in this paper. The paper is divided into four sections: first, based on the analysis of the existing LCA method and the product design activities, the functional model of the LCA tool is built with IDEF0 methods. And then through analyzing the product and its life cycle activities, product's life cycle model is proposed and the functional unit class and process class are presented with object oriented design. Third, aimed to the problems of the data management of product's life cycle, product configuration management is integrated into GPLCD. Finally, a case on choosing material of impeller is given to testify how to use the LCA tool to support green design.


Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare, potentially fatal disorder that involves large areas of skin desquamation. Patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis are frequently referred to burn centres for expert wound management and early comprehensive critical care as this has been shown to improve patient outcome and mortality. The authors describe the first report of medication-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis occurring in a patient during acute burn management in a tertiary burn care facility. The patient sustained a 17% total body surface area flame burn to her face, chest, bilateral upper limbs and bilateral lower limbs while escaping from a wildfire. She required extensive debridement and allografting to manage burn injured areas and additional areas of epidermal loss from subsequent toxic epidermal necrolysis, amounting to a total body surface area of 90%. Definitive burn wound closure was achieved using autologous split-thickness skin grafting once donor sites healed and became suitable for harvest 3 weeks after the onset of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Grafts achieved complete take and the patient was discharged home following rehabilitation..


BACKGROUND
Families express a need for guidance in helping their loved ones with anorexia nervosa (AN). Guided self-help interventions can offer support to caregivers.

METHODS
One hundred seventy-eight adult AN patients and their caregivers were recruited from 15 UK treatment centres. Families were randomized to carers' assessment, skills and information sharing (C) intervention + treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Feedback forms were sent at 6 months post-discharge and, if not returned, at 12 months. One hundred two (57%) patient forms (n = 50TAU; n = 52C) and 115 (65%) caregiver forms (n = 60TAU; n = 55C) were returned. Two researchers coded data blind, using thematic analysis.

RESULTS
(i) Caregivers and patients express a need for post-discharge support. (ii) Patients identify helpful and unhelpful support strategies, useful for developing future interventions. (iii) Patients could identify positive caregiver behaviour changes targeted in intervention. (iv) Guided self-help may benefit caregiver and sufferer, post-discharge.

CONCLUSION
Caregiver interventions can be a useful tool that will improve the cost effectiveness of inpatient treatment by enhancing the well-being of caregivers and patients.


Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) rapidly lose their attractive appearance after harvest due to a superficial pericarp browning. Storage at high humidity minimizes fruit desiccation and may, therefore, delay browning onset. This paper examines the effect of reduced water loss rate on browning that may occur with time. Rambutan fruit pericarp browning beyond a commercially saleable level occurred at a weight loss of 25% to 40%. This depended on duration and storage relative humidity (RH). Skin browning was 50% greater on the red (R 134) than the yellow (R 156) cultivar at 60% RH. There was a storage time × RH interaction in the development of browning such that browning was observed earlier at lower RHs. Skin browning and spintern (soft spine) browning developed independently. Cracks appeared on the surface of fruit with increased weight loss. Browning occurrence was consistent with increased total phenolic compound levels in the pericarp. Water loss precedes browning occurrence and, over time, water loss is related to browning. Water stress appeared to affect rambutan pericarp tissue in much the same manner as senescence.


This paper aims at illustrating the historical circumstances which led Julius Bernstein in 1902 to formulate a membrane theory on resting current in muscle and nerve fibers. It was a truly paradigm shift in research into bioelectrical phenomena, if qualified by the observation that, besides Bernstein, many other electrophysiologists between 1890 and 1902 borrowed ideas from the recent ionistic approach in the physical chemistry domain. But the Bernstein's subjective perception of that paradigm shift was that it constitued a mere re-interpretation of the so-called pre-existence theory advanced by his teacher Emil du Bois-Reymond in the first half of the 19 century.


Predicting future successful teams of experts who can synergistically work in concert with each other and en masse cover a set of required skills of a degree necessary for the achievement of the desired outcome is challenging due to several reasons, including 1) the magnitude of the pool of plausible expert candidates with diverse backgrounds and skills, and 2) the drift and variability of collaborative ties of experts and their level of expertise in each area in time. Prior works in team formation have neglected the fact that experts' skill, interests, and collaborative ties change over time. We can categorize previous works in team formation based on their method of optimization: 1) search-based, where the search for the optimum team is carried over all the subgraphs of expert networks or via integer programming, however, these works overlooked the temporal nature of human collaborations. 2) learning-based, where machine learning approaches are used to learn the distributions of experts and skills in the context of successful teams in the history to predict almost surely successful teams in the future. However, they also fail to recognize the possible drift and variability of experts' skills, interest, and collaborative ties in time and its impact on the prediction of future successful teams. Moreover, neural models are prone to overfitting when training data suffers from the long-tail phenomenon, i.e., few experts have a lot of successful collaborations and the majority have participated sparingly. To overcome the aforementioned problems, i) we propose a streaming scenario training strategy for neural models to help the model in the prediction of future successful teams of experts, where instead of shuffling our datasets, we train the models in an orderly manner, to grasp the changes in experts' skills, interests, and collaborations, and ii) we propose an optimization objective that leverages both successful and virtually unsuccessful teams via various negative sampling heuristics, and iii) we conduct experiments on four large-scale benchmark datasets with varying distribution of skills and members namely, dblp, imdb, uspt, and github. Finally, we empirically demonstrate how our proposed objective functions and training method, outperform the state-of-the-art approaches in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.


Office types and their environmental features influence performance and job satisfaction. Yet employees' opinions are seldom considered when choosing office type. This paper suggests a method that investigates employees' office type preferences and motives behind the preferences. The method proved to be quick and simple and provided a flow of current to preferred office type. A majority preferred the quiet cell office for its privacy while the open office was considered having a noisy and distracting environment and lack of privacy. These factors should be prioritized when planning work environments.


Background/Aim: Vasopressin and oxytocin are closely related peptides, and both exert effects on the gastrointestinal function. In the present study, we wanted to map the expression of vasopressin receptor mRNAs (V1a, V1b/V3, and V2) in nontumorous tissue biopsy specimens of human gastrointestinal tract and surrounding tissues. Methods: Total and polyA+ RNAs were isolated from human tissue biopsy specimens using an automated nucleic acid extractor and, subsequently, converted into single-stranded cDNA. Seminested PCR amplifications were carried out, using gene-specific V1a, V1b/V3, and V2 receptor primers. The PCR amplicons were partially sequenced to confirm their identity. Results: The present study demonstrated the expression of vasopressin receptor mRNAs in human gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, kidney, lung, brain, and ovary. The expression pattern varied between different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. In the colon ascendens, V1a receptor mRNA expression could not be detected in 3 out of 4 analyzed tissue biopsy specimens. On the other hand, all the vasopressin receptor mRNAs were expressed in all colon transversum biopsy samples. Conclusions: V1a, V1b/V3, and V2 receptor mRNAs are widely expressed throughout human gastrointestinal tract and surrounding tissues. The data obtained provide information for further mapping and determination of the physiological role of the vasopressin receptor mRNA expression in normal and tumorous tissues.


Maintenance of ordered chromatin structure over the body of genes is vital for the regulation of transcription. Increased access to the underlying DNA sequence results in the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to inappropriate, promoter‐like sites within genes, resulting in unfettered transcription. Our recent studies show how Set2‐mediated methylation of histone H3 on Lys36 (H3K36me) maintains chromatin structure by limiting histone dynamics over gene bodies, either by recruiting chromatin remodelers that preserve ordered nucleosomal distribution or by lowering the binding affinity of histone chaperones for histones, preventing their removal.


Abstract. The person reidentification task applied in a real-world scenario is addressed. Finding people in a network of cameras is challenging due to significant variations in lighting conditions, different color responses, and different camera viewpoints. State-of-the-art algorithms are likely to fail due to serious perspective and pose changes. Most of the existing approaches try to cope with all these changes by applying metric learning tools to find a transfer function between a camera pair while ignoring the body alignment issue. Additionally, this transfer function usually depends on the camera pair and requires labeled training data for each camera. This might be unattainable in a large camera network. We employ three-dimensional scene information for minimizing perspective distortions and estimating the target pose. The estimated pose is further used for splitting a target trajectory into reliable chunks, each one with a uniform pose. These chunks are matched through a network of cameras using a previously learned metric pool. However, instead of learning transfer functions that cope with all appearance variations, we propose to learn a generic metric pool that only focuses on pose changes. This pool consists of metrics, each one learned to match a specific pair of poses and not being limited to a specific camera pair. Automatically estimated poses determine the proper metric, thus improving matching. We show that metrics learned using only a single camera can significantly improve the matching across the whole camera network, providing a scalable solution. We validated our approach on publicly available datasets, demonstrating increase in the reidentification performance.


Lean techniques focus on value maximisation while minimising waste. Waste is commonly interpreted as waste of material even though, waste in construction industry also relates to activities such as defects, movement, waiting time and processing. Such waste can be minimised through an in-depth understanding of the organisation. Herein, Value Chain Management (VCM) can be used to facilitate organisations to categorise the activities in terms of their value addition. The generic value chain model developed by Porter in 1985 focuses on the manufacturing industry thus, a framework is required for contractor organisations based on which Value Adding Activities (VAAs) and non-VAAs can be identified. This paper is aimed at proposing a conceptual model for VCM in contractor organisations. Three case studies were conducted in selected contractor organisations and data was collected through fifteen semi-structured interviews. Collected data was analysed using content analysis. Altogether, 46 VAAs were identified classified under four primary functions and six secondary functions. The findings were used to develop a VC model applicable to contractor organisations based on Porter's generic VC model. This in turn could be used by contractors to adopt strategies to enhance Value Adding Activities (VAAs) and to minimise non-VAAs.


Design space exploration (DSE) is an important knowledge discovery process in the early design phase of complex systems. The outcomes of this process generally include the performance of the designs generated and designer learning. The latter broadly refers to the designer's knowledge of the mapping between the design space and the objective space. Despite the integration of visual and data analytics in DSE, there is a lack of emphasis on a human designer's learning as a basis for increasing the effectiveness of DSE. To address this gap, we investigate the use of goal-setting as a motivating factor to improve DSE outcomes. Previous research suggests that the goal of designing (i.e., finding good designs) and the goal of learning (i.e., learning useful knowledge) are inextricably interlinked. We test the hypothesis that giving designers an explicit goal of learning vs an explicit goal of designing generates different learning and performance outcomes, despite the two goals being interlinked. To this hypothesis, we conduct a between-subject experiment in which participants (N = 14) use a DSE tool to explore mechanical metamaterial designs. Subjects in the first conditions are incentivized to maximize the number of correct answers in learning tests administered after using the tool. Subjects in the second condition are incentivized to maximize the performance of designs they generate. The results show that the subjects with the goal of learning perform better on the learning tests, with a large but mildly significant effect. Whereas, the subjects with the designing goal generate better design performance, with a small but significant effect. This study suggests that there may exist a trade-off between the designing and learning goals, despite their interconnections, and designers can target one at the expense of the other through goal-setting.


The ciliates are a family of unicellular organisms that characterize themselves by having two types of nuclei, micro - and macronuclei. During cell mating the genetic material must change from the micronuclei to the macronuclei form. The paper summarises a formal model for this change. The model, which is described in recent works, is based on strings and graphs. It shows that inside the cell complex computational operations have to take place.


Many problems in ecology and the environmental sciences, such as monitoring the presence/absence of a species, involve the observation of spatial binary random fields. Markov random field (MRF) models are commonly used to analyze data of this kind. It is becoming more common for these studies to include a time component as well. Markov random field models can be modified to incorporate temporal dependence whether the dependence is on a local level or through a global effect. However, it is important when working with MRF models to ensure the spatial dependence is properly specified. Over the course of three papers, this dissertation explores binary MRF models with an emphasis on arriving at an appropriate model for binary fields observed over time. In the first paper, we explore options to incorporate temporal dependence in MRF models. Our attempts to apply these to data resulted in unexpected results, namely negative spatial dependence estimates. In the second paper, we examine what negative spatial dependence means in the context of binary MRF models. We develop the run length distribution as a tool that can be used to diagnose the strength and direction of the dependence by examining data patterns in realized fields. In the third paper, we shift our focus to exploring the effect of negative dependence on the conditional expectations of MRF models. We develop the empirical conditional expectation as a method of examining the conditional expectation of binary fields in which we do not have knowledge of the true parameters used to generate the field (i.e. real data). The scale and heterogeneity of the empirical conditional expectation fields are statistics we introduce to assess the effect negative dependence has on the conditional expectation field.


The NOvA Neutrino Experiment is building a one of a kind self-supporting plastic structure, potentially the largest ever built. The PVC structure serves as a neutrino detector and is composed of 28 individual blocks that measure 51 feet high by 51 feet wide by 7 feet deep. The PVC needed for each block weighs approximately 400,000 pounds. The primary parts in the detector construction are 51-foot, 16-cell PVC extrusions. These extrusions form the basis of the detector modules which are laminated together in a crossed pattern to form the individual blocks and then filled with mineral oil. The hydrostatic loading on the extrusions results in complex loading of the laminated structure. In addition, the mass of the contained mineral oil is 1.7 times the PVC mass, thereby adding to the mechanical stress. The self-supporting nature of the detector places important structural requirements on both the PVC formulation and the extrusions. Similarly, the need for leak-tight seals along with block assembly requirements imposes narrow geometric tolerances on extrusions whose large size is pushing the manufacturing limit. Furthermore, due to the method of detecting neutrinos, another fundamental requirement of the extrusions is that it possesses exceptionally high reflectivity over a particular wavelength range. This requirement places additional restrictions on the components of the PVC formulation. Taken altogether, the PVC extrusions have to maintain important reflectivity characteristics, provide structural support to the detector, and meet relatively tight geometric requirements for assembly. In order to meet these constraints, a custom PVC formulation had to be created. One of the main features of the PVC compound was exceptionally high loading of anatase TiO2 (to meet the reflectivity requirements).