Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) is an emerging access network technology that provides a low-cost method of deploying optical access lines between a carrier's central office (CO) and a customer site. The EPON can provide more bandwidth than xDSLs which are most widely deployed broadband solutions. In this paper, we propose a cost effective structure of optical network unit (ONU) for EPON. The proposed ONU is suitable for apartment that is a typical residential model in Korea. The ONU system can process layer 2 functions such as VLAN, bandwidth management, priority control, etc. In addition to these layer 2 functions, other services, such as L2 IGMP snooping, can be deployed easily.


This study explored the developmental trajectories and predictors of word reading and reading comprehension among young at-risk readers. In fall of first grade, 185 students identified as at-risk for reading difficulties were assessed on measures of domain-specific skills (phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and vocabulary), domain-general skills (working memory, nonverbal reasoning, and processing speed), and word reading and reading comprehension. Word reading and reading comprehension were assessed again in spring of grades 1–4. Individual growth curve modeling showed that the children demonstrated decelerated growth on word reading and linear growth on reading comprehension, although their performance on both word reading and reading comprehension were consistently below average on national norms. After controlling for word reading and reading comprehension in first grade, letter knowledge predicted growth in word reading; vocabulary and nonverbal reasoning predicted growth in reading comprehension. That is, we found different developmental trajectories and different predictors for word reading and reading comprehension among our at-risk sample. Implications are discussed for theory and early reading instruction for at-risk children.


Whatever we speak about enhancement as the, just, one array of the wide range of the bioethical fields, or as the kind of ideological and theoretical field, it is necessary to emphasize relevant ideological and theoretical distinctions between different approaches. Trying to give some fundamental shape to debate among them, as well within themselves, I specified three possible streams with more or less arbitrary boundaries. First one is transhumanistic stream, whose representatives openly promote the practice of genetic, prosthetic and cognitive enhancement of human kind transition from human to a post human society; bioconservative, whose representatives perceive a threat in the violation of human dignity, meddling in "God's business" (playing God), and in changes to the nature of human beings; representatives of the "middle standpoint" consider that danger lies within the dialectic relation of "capitalism and medicine." I present the tree ideological standpoints trying to building consistency through different ethical arguments. Discussing the relevant theoretical/ideological distinction between standpoints and their claims, I will argue that ideological distinction among standpoints is less relevant than contingency within their arguments. Such mutual contingence creates some similarity regarding epistemological and social issues.


Natural language (NL) interaction enables users to be expressive with their queries when exploring data. Users often specify complex NL queries that involve a combination of grouping, aggregations, and conditionals of data attributes and values. Such queries are often reused several times by users during their analytical workflows. Existing systems offer limited support to save these bespoke queries as concepts that can be referenced in subsequent NL queries, leading to users having to respecify these queries repeatedly. To address this issue, we describe a system, LOKI that allows users to save complex and bespoke queries as reusable concepts and use these concepts in other NL queries and analytics tools. For example, users can save an NL query, "show me the opportunity amount by customer for open opportunities" in a sales dataset, as a concept 'followup customers' and reference this custom concept in a query such as "show me the total opportunity amount for followup customers." A qualitative evaluation of LOKI indicates the usefulness of supporting the reuse of custom concepts across various analytical workflows. We identify future research directions around in-situ semantic enrichment and dynamic concept maps for data exploration. CCS Concepts • Human-centered computing → Interactive systems and tools; Visualization application domains;


Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) is an extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for measuring blood flow dynamics simultaneously with the microscopic structures at high spatial and velocity resolution. In this paper, we analyze the effects of parameters of the DOCT system on the optical transfer function (OTF) which finally affects the accuracy of the velocity estimation. Experimental data are given to show the effects. The methods of overcoming the effects are also pointed out.


Water productivity is one of the main indicators used in agriculture. Price of water change from some regions where the price is free to other with a very high price. When water productivity is measured in Euros, to make comparable the results of the regions where the price is free, we need to obtain a correct measurement, which will require setting a market price for water in areas where no price has yet been set. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose new productivity indicators based on fuzzy logic, whereby experts' opinions about the possible price of the use of water as well as the annual variability of agricultural prices can be added. Therefore, the fuzzy willingness to pay (FWTP) and fuzzy willingness to accept (FWTA) methodology will be applied to create an artificial water market. The use of fuzzy logic will allow the uncertainty inherent in the experts' answers to be collected. Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operators and their different extensions will allow different aggregations based on the sentiment or interests reflected by the experts. These same aggregators, applied to the prices of the products at origin, will make it possible to create new indicators of the economic productivity of water. Finally, through an empirical application for a pepper crop in south-eastern Spain we can visualize the importance of the different indicators and their influence on the final results.


A computational model for polymer particles used in xerographic and printing industries is presented. The powder grain is modelled by a cluster containing thousands of particles interacting via an empirical potential. The grain is subjected to various mechanical tests. The objective is to select the appropriate potential of interaction and the internal structure for the computer material for the adequate simulation of the mechanical behaviour of the real toner grains.


In 1592, the pamphlet Greenes Groatworth of Witte attacked "Shake-scene" as a "Johannes fac totum" with a "Tygers hart wrapt in a Players hyde." These lines have been widely read as evidence that William Shakespeare began his career as an actor. The author of Greenes Groatworth, it is generally concluded, attacks Shakespeare as a professional player who has dared to intrude upon the playwright's art. This article challenges that conventional interpretation of Greenes Groatworth. It examines key passages and contextualizes them through other documents, including Chettle's Kind-Harts Dreame. It also looks at the career tracks of other playwrights, including Munday, Jonson, and Heywood. Shakespeare, it argues, is highly unlikely to have started out as an actor. Nor does it make sense to define him as a "player" in 1592. Placing Shakespeare as a literary dramatist and poet, this article makes the case for his early professional and stylistic closeness to writers such as Greene, Marlowe, Nashe, and Peele. The playwright's exceptional closeness to the performers of his plays, it concludes, did not come about until later, with Shakespeare's adoption into the Chamberlain's Men fellowship in 1594.


Understanding the possible conditional structure in a given weakly-null sequence (xi) in some normed space X lies in the heart of several classical problems of this area of mathematics. We will expose the set-theoretic and Ramsey-theoretic methods relevant to both the lack and the existence of this conditional structure. We will concentrate on more recent results and will point out problems for further study. 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 03E05,05D10,46B20.


Tertiary magmatism in Ethiopia has been linked to the thermal influence of the Afar mantle plume. However, new laser 40Ar/39Ar ages for the volcanic succession in southern Ethiopia confirm the presence of two distinct magmatic phases at 45–35 Ma and 19–12 Ma. The earliest phase predates both extension and magmatism in northern Ethiopia by 15 m.y. and cannot be related to any simple model of melting in response to extension over a single mantle plume. We propose a model in which the Ethiopian province was initially related to the thermal influence of the Kenyan, and subsequently, the Afar mantle plume during northward movement of the African plate in the Tertiary. Support for this model comes from paleogeographic evidence that places southern Ethiopia ∼1000 km farther south than its current position during the early melting event at 45 Ma. Moreover, the rate of migration of the onset of magmatism from southern Ethiopia to Tanzania is similar to the rate of migration of the African plate over the same period. Comparable eruption rates in southern Ethiopia and Kenya further strengthen this link. In the light of this evidence, eruption rates ascribed to melting of the Afar mantle plume may be overestimated, which calls into question the potential for the Afar mantle plume to have had a significant effect on the biosphere.


Many States have set up National Committees or similar bodies on international humanitarian law (IHL). To assist these bodies in their task of advising and assisting governments in promoting and implementing IHL, the Advisory Service on IHL of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has now launched an electronic Forum. The objective of this new tool is to facilitate the exchange of information and experience between the Committees, to strengthen contacts between them, and to thereby encourage States to take national IHL implementation measures.


Acorus calamus is familiar for therapeutic plant in the traditional healthcare system of India as well as other countries. The current study is focused in the progress of the phyto-chemical properties and investigation of the therapeutically active compounds that are exist within the methanolic extracts that are attained from the rhizomes of the plant Acorus calamus linn. The Preliminary phyto-chemical screening of the samples in this study unveiled the existence of Terpenoids, Flavanoids, Tannins, Steroids, Saponins and Phenol-based substances. The Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a chromatographic method which is widely utilized in the field of flora-based study. It is a modest, rapid and cost-effective method with the capacity to indicate the constituents present in a crude plant extract. The TLC is widely applicable due to several advantage such as the low cost, quicker analysis, multiple detection capacity and specificized derivation within the similar plate. Amongst the diverse extracts obtained, the methanol extract was utilized for TLC and a novel solvent system was established for the best extraction of the phyto-constituents exist in the extract which was composed of the constituents in the proportion of N-Hexane: Ethyl Acetate: Methanol: Formic acid 3: 4: 3: 0.1 ml for methanol extract. This caused in the documentation of four spots that were present in the Methanol extract. The Rf values of the samples were 0.68, 0.71, 0.79 and 0.81. The research will further deliver information for the precise exploration of the crude floral extract of Acorus calamus linn.


By making use of the Hough and the contour sequence matching technique, the authors suggest a novel approach for solving the problem of the large memory requirement of the Hough space. For the conventional Hough algorithm it is necessary to take a four-dimensional space for the recognition of an irregular pattern, while in the proposed algorithm the Hough space is replaced with a two-dimensional domain. The orientation of a possible object is determined by comparing the contour sequence of the object and that of the prototype. The reduction of the scaling and orientation parameters in the new Hough space also simplifies the peak searching process to verify the results. In order to enhance the accuracy of the recognition rate, a novel peak searching technique for eliminating false peaks in the Hough space is suggested. The overall approach was tested using practical images and was found to be very promising.<<ETX>>


Steel moulds with high precision surfaces are being used in various branches. Process aspects, like tool life and tribological properties, as well as design issues are of great importance. This work summarises experimental studies performed to test durability properties of SOG (spin-on-glass)-layers on steel surfaces. This coating technique is based on a newly developed method for surface preparation of tools which has been demonstrated to be durable for more than 66.000 replications in injection moulding processes without loss of surface fidelity. The procedure allows surface roughness reduction from approximately 200 nm Ra down to some few nm for high gloss applications, as well as easy transfer of large-area functional nanostructures on complex 3D surfaces.Three different types of surfaces were investigated: SOG-layered metal surfaces with three different layer thicknesses, one ingot casted and one electro slag remelted material (with hardness level of 950 and 2500 MPa, respectively). The metal surfaces were ground and polished to mirrorlike finishes.Three circular samples of each type were rubbed against a hard steel ball of 6.35 mm radius on a commercial pin-on-disk tribometer. To resemble the molding process a sliding speed of 2 mm/s and a load of 8 N were chosen. The tests were performed with 5 minutes intervals until the first damage on the surface were observed. In parallel, scratch tests were performed in the same tribometer. The surfaces were measured in-situ by a portable microscope and a stylus, and afterwards by a white light interferometer and scanning electron microscope to evaluate the size of the wear/scratch traces.The surface type with the longest time to damage and/or smallest wear/scratch traces was considered to be the most durable one.


Production cycle time reduction in their discrete-event control systems (DECS) helps increase the productivity of automated manufacturing systems (AMS). Methods developed to evaluate the production cycle time are usually based on either the Design for Manufacture (DFM) or Design for Production (DFP) scheduling techniques. To evaluate the real cycle time at the programming level of controllers such as the ladder logic design of programmable logic controller (PLC) in DECS, this paper discusses a method to analyze the production cycle time based on the sensor-based stage Petri nets technique. The production time can be estimated at each stage directly from all the I/O sensors that are represented by the extended Petri nets: the sensor-based stage Petri net (SBSPN). The production cycle time required to complete each product is marked on the individual stage transition through the real timers in the SBSPN model. For the production of multiple products, different production cycles times are estimated through the stage-by-stage real timers of controller program. These production cycle times are able to evaluate the bottleneck of integrated manufacturing systems. An example is used to illustrate the approach.


ABSTRACT
 The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), is a cosmopolitan pest of livestock and humans. The pestiferous nature and painful bite cause stress to cattle and other animals. The stress and resulting avoidance behaviors manifest as reductions in weight gain or milk production in cattle; estimated annual economic loss in the United States exceeds US$2 billion. Understanding the population genetics of stable flies could provide information on their population dynamics, origins of outbreaks, and geographical patterns of insecticide resistance, resulting in a tactical advantage for developing management strategies. Previous studies, mostly on a local scale, reported a high level of gene flow between locations. Here, we report results wherein amplified fragment length polymorphism was used to determine genetic diversity of stable fly samples consisting of 11–40 individuals from 12 locations representing the United States, Canada, and Panama. The Analysis of Molecular Variance showed that the majority of genetic diversity was within groups; very little was among groups. The FST and GST values were low (<0.4), Nm values high (>1.0). The tests of neutrality suggested population expansion, and no genetic differentiation was found between locations. These results show that stable flies have a high level of gene flow on a continental scale, with limited isolation owing to distance or geographical barriers.


: The suitability of two types of membrane filters for scanning and transmission electron-microscopical examination of chlamydospores formed from macroconidia of Fusarium solani from soil was tested. An improved method to incubate propagules in soil and to collect them free from soil particles for electron-microscopical observations is described. Best results were obtained if macroconidia were incubated in soil between two Nucleopore membrane filters. Both chlamydospore morphology and lysis, however, were affected to some extent in comparison with that on single membranes. This is probably due to a selective effect on the microflora colonizing the chlamydospores.


Recent research in developed countries provides evidence for the significant role of the yield spread on real economic activity. Using k-months industrial production growth rate model, this article attempts to ascertain whether similar results are obtained for countries from East Europe (Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia). The results suggest that the interest rate spread does indeed have some predictive power over the 24-months across the countries. These results remain qualitative robust to the inclusion of additional variables and to the change of unemployment rate as a different measure of economic activity. Cyclical movements of volatility appear to be unable to account for the usefulness of the spread for forecasting industrial production growth. Finally, it is found that the term spread is a better indicator of future real growth in countries with low and stable inflation (Czech Republic) and not in countries characterized by high and volatile inflation (Hungary).


The reciprocal transplantation of hematopoietic tissues was carried out on young, lethally irradiated mice of inbred, microphthalmic stock. The cell infusions prepared from the bone marrow or spleen of a normal littermate fully restored capacity to resorb bone and cartilage in the osteopetrotic recipients. Conversely, cell infusions prepared from the spleen of microphthalmic mice induced osteopetrosis in their irradiated, normal littermates. It is concluded that resorption of skeletal matrix is controlled by migratory cells, possibly osteoclastic progenitors, derived from the myelogenous tissues. No evidence was obtained to suggest that skeletal changes observed in the experimental animals were mediated by a graft-vs.-host reaction. The earliest skeletal changes in the experimental mice were detected 2 wk after onset which may represent the length or time required to replace the osteoclast population of the mouse.


This paper experimentally investigates the effect of high freestream turbulence intensity, turbulence length scale, and exit Reynolds number on the surface heat transfer distribution of a turbine blade at realistic engine Mach numbers. Passive turbulence grids were used to generate freestream turbulence levels of 2%, 12%, and 14% at the cascade inlet. The turbulence grids produced length scales normalized by the blade pitch of 0.02, 0.26, and 0.41, respectively. Surface heat transfer measurements were made at the midspan of the blade using thin film gauges. Experiments were performed at exit Mach numbers of 0.55, 0.78 and 1.03 which represent flow conditions below, near, and above nominal conditions. The exit Mach numbers tested correspond to exit Reynolds numbers of 6 × 105 , 8 × 105 , and 11 × 105 , based on true chord. The experimental results showed that the high freestream turbulence augmented the heat transfer on both the pressure and suction sides of the blade as compared to the low freestream turbulence case. At nominal conditions, exit Mach 0.78, average heat transfer augmentations of 23% and 35% were observed on the pressure side and suction side of the blade, respectively.© 2007 ASME


We explore the sources of racial disparities in small business lending by studying the $806 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to support small business jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were administered by private lenders but federally guaranteed, largely eliminating unobservable credit risk as a factor in explaining differential lending by race. We document that even after controlling for a firm's zip code, industry, loan size, PPP approval date, and other characteristics, Black-owned businesses were 12.1 percentage points (70% of the mean) more likely to obtain their PPP loan from a fintech lender than a traditional bank. Among conventional lenders, smaller banks were much less likely to lend to Black-owned firms, while the Top-4 banks exhibited little to no disparity after including controls. We use novel data to show that the disparity is not primarily explained by differences in pre-existing bank or credit relationships, firm financial positions, fintech affinity, or borrower application behavior. In contrast, we document that Black-owned businesses' higher rate of borrowing from fintechs compared to smaller banks is particularly large in places with high racial animus, pointing to a potential role for discrimination in explaining some of the racial disparities in small business lending. We find evidence that when small banks automate their lending processes, and thus reduce human involvement in the loan origination process, their rate of PPP lending to Black-owned businesses increases, with larger effects in places with more racial animus.


REPORT OF A CASE A 29-year-old Mexican man who had lived in the United States for 15 years was referred to the dermatology clinic at the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, for evaluation of a possible mycetoma of the right foot. The disorder had started 8 years before, when the patient injured his foot with a blunt metal object at work. Subsequently, multiple sinus tracts draining blood and pus had formed on the foot. Empiric treatment with combinations of dapsone, rifampin and isoniazid, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, gentamicin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and intralesional triamcinolone acetonide suspension had been unsuccessful. The patient had no relevant medical history, no allergies to medications, and used tobacco and alcohol occasionally. On physical examination, the right foot and ankle were firm, swollen, and in fixed plantar flexion. Multiple crusted, friable nodules and sinus tracts draining serosanguinous and purulent material were seen (Fig


: Four types of protease negative mutants of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens A50 were selected after four stages of step-by-step UV light mutagenesis. EDTA, and PMSF were used as inhibitors of protease activity to characterize the protease negative mutants with regard to the protease type. The electrophoretic patterns of proteases from culture medium of B. amyloliquefaciens protease deficient mutants were studied. The proinsulin stability in the culture medium of different mutants was analysed. Protease deficient B. amyloliquefaciens strain A50-32 may be used as a recipient for cloning and expression of a foreign proteins genes.


Socialbots are software-driven user accounts on social platforms, acting autonomously (mimicking human behavior), with the aims to influence the opinions of other users or spread targeted misinformation for particular goals. As socialbots undermine the ecosystem of social platforms, they are often considered harmful. As such, there have been several computational efforts to auto-detect the socialbots. However, to our best knowledge, the adversarial nature of these socialbots has not yet been studied. This begs a question "can adversaries, controlling socialbots, exploit AI techniques to their advantage?" To this question, we successfully demonstrate that indeed it is possible for adversaries to exploit computational learning mechanism such as reinforcement learning (RL) to maximize the influence of socialbots while avoiding being detected. We first formulate the adversarial socialbot learning as a cooperative game between two functional hierarchical RL agents. While one agent curates a sequence of activities that can avoid the detection, the other agent aims to maximize network influence by selectively connecting with right users. Our proposed policy networks train with a vast amount of synthetic graphs and generalize better than baselines on unseen real-life graphs both in terms of maximizing network influence (up to +18%) and sustainable stealthiness (up to +40% undetectability) under a strong bot detector (with 90% detection accuracy). During inference, the complexity of our approach scales linearly, independent of a network's structure and the virality of news. This makes our approach a practical adversarial attack when deployed in a real-life setting.


This paper presents a model of the interaction of a company's financial and real investment decisions with the financing of its defined benefit pension plan. The pension plan deficit is a debt of the company, with explicit funding requirements and priority in the event of company insolvency. Pension plan deficits and options on future deficits and surpluses affect investment incentives as does the size and composition of company debt. We illustrate the incentives for the firm to pay dividends rather than fund the pension plan and the general incentives to overfund the pension plan. We also illustrate the impact of pension benefit insurance and minimum funding requirements.


Aim: To assess the potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived smooth muscle cells (hiPSC-SMC) to accelerate diabetic wound healing. Methods: hiPSC-SMC were embedded in 3D collagen scaffolds and cultured in vitro for 72 h; scaffolds were then applied to diabetic, nude mouse, splinted back wounds to assess in vivo healing. Cultured medium after scaffold incubation was collected and analyzed for expression of pro-angiogenic cytokines. Results: hiPSC-SMC secrete increased concentration of pro-angiogenic cytokines, compared with murine adipose derived stem cells. Delivery of hiPSC-SMC-containing collagen scaffolds accelerates diabetic wound healing and is associated with an increased number of total and M2 type macrophages. Conclusion: hiPSC-SMC promote angiogenesis and accelerate diabetic wound healing, making them a promising new candidate for treatment of diabetic wounds.


Architectural documentation improves the overall understanding of a proposed software system's design, but its true value comes from facilitating the process of satisfying architecturally significant requirements (ASRs). Architectural views are a tool for documenting ASRs in the context of particular quality attributes. Views offer a convenient way to capture architectural decisions, rationales, and alternatives considered. However, when multiple stakeholders have conflicting quality requirements, traditional architectural views tend to scatter their resolutions throughout the documentation.


Mathematical Morphology (MM) is a tool that can be applied to many digital image processing tasks that include the reduction of impulsive or salt and pepper noise in grayscale images. The morphological filters used for this task are filters resulting from two basic operators: erosion and dilation. However, when the level of contamination of the image is higher, these filters tend to distort the image. In this work we propose a pair of operators with properties, that better adapt to impulsive noise than other classical morphological filters, it is demonstrated to be increasing idempotent morphological filters. Furthermore, the proposed pair turns out to be a Ʌ-filter and a V-filter which allow to build morphological openings and closings. Finally, they are compared with other filters of the state-of-the-art such as: SMF, PMSF, DBAIN, AMF and NAFSM, and have shown a better performance when the noise level is above 50%.


Continuous, real-time monitoring of occupational health and safety in high-risk workplaces such as construction sites can substantially improve the safety of workers. However, introducing such systems in practice is associated with a number of challenges, such as scaling up the solution while keeping its cost low. In this context, this work investigates the use of an off-the-shelf, low-cost smartwatch to detect health issues based on heart rate monitoring in a privacy-preserving manner. To improve the smartwatch's low measurement quality, a novel, frugal machine learning method is proposed that corrects measurement errors, along with a new dataset for this task. This method's integration with the smartwatch and the remaining parts of the health and safety monitoring system (built on the ASSIST-IoT reference architecture) are presented. This method was evaluated in a laboratory environment in terms of its accuracy, computational requirements, and frugality. With an experimentally established mean absolute error of 8.19 BPM, only 880 bytes of required memory, and a negligible impact on the performance of the device, this method meets all relevant requirements and is expected to be field-tested in the coming months. To support reproducibility and to encourage alternative approaches, the dataset, the trained model, and its implementation on the smartwatch were published under free licenses.


The development of computer-based simulations of the patient-physician encounter has made it possible to give students the opportunity to manage a case without jeopardizing a real patient's life. At the University of Wisconsin Medical School simulated patients have been an integral part of the third-year teaching program for the past five years. They have been used to permit the students to gain clinical experience, as part of a series of structured teaching conferences, and in a medical testing program. Student and faculty response to the program generally has been favorable.


Objective: to evaluate the effect of scaling procedures using different ultrasonic tips on the surface roughness, color stability and bacterial accumulation of lithium disilicate ceramic. Material and Methods: Scaling procedure was carried out using ultrasonic scaler (Satalec, Acteon, North America) with stainless-steel tip (US), titanium tip (UT) and plastic tip (UP), on disc shaped lithium disilicate samples cemented into a cavity prepared onto the labial surface of freshly extracted bovine teeth (10 samples per group). The samples were stored in coffee solution in an incubator at 37°C for 12 days, which is equivalent to 1 year of coffee consumption. The surface roughness was measured before and after the scaling procedure using a profilometer and atomic force microscopy. The color parameters were measured before and after scaling and staining procedures using VITA Easyshade Advance 4.0 according to the CIE L*a*b* color order system. The samples were then incubated with Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) suspension.  After incubation, the plates with 30 to 300 typical colonies of S. mutans were counted in a colony counter and mean values of colony forming units were obtained (CFU/mL). Results: The titanium scaling tip showed a statistically significant higher mean values of change in surface roughness Ra and bacterial count than the plastic scaling tip. Color changes (E) were not a statistically significant among the groups. The results showed a statistically significant positive (direct) correlation between surface roughness and color change (p = 0.012) and also between surface roughness and bacterial count (p = 0.00).
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, titanium scaling instruments cause irreversible surface alterations of lithium disilcate ceramics which was in direct correlation to the color changes and bacterial accumulation; therefore, dentists should proceed with caution when scaling lithium disilicate surfaces. The findings of the current study may indicate the need for instruments or equipment that can remove plaque and calculus without causing surface damage.

Keywords
Surface properties; Color; Bacterial adhesion; Ultrasonics; Dental scaling; Ceramics.


Chicken meat is considered as an easily available source of high-quality protein and other nutrients that are necessary for proper body functioning. In order to meet the consumers' growing demands for high-quality protein, the poultry industry focused on selection of fast-growing broilers, which reach a body mass of about 2.5 kg within 6-week- intensive fattening. Relatively low sales prices of chicken meat, in comparison to other types of meat, speak in favor of the increased chicken meat consumption. In addition, chicken meat is known by its nutritional quality, as it contains significant amount of high-quality and easily digestible protein and a low portion of saturated fat. Therefore, chicken meat is recommended for consumption by all age groups. The technological parameters of chicken meat quality are related to various factors (keeping conditions, feeding treatment, feed composition, transport, stress before slaughter, etc.). Composition of chicken meat can be influenced through modification of chicken feed composition (addition of different types of oils, vitamins, microelements and amino acids), to produce meat enriched with functional ingredients (n-3 PUFA, carnosine, selenium and vitamin E). By this way, chicken meat becomes a foodstuff with added value, which, in addition to high-quality nutritional composition, also contains ingredients that are beneficial to human health.


The palaeomagnetic properties of Frasnian and Famennian dolomites from two quarries in Latvia and Lithuania respectively are compared. Famennian dolomites from Skaistgirys quarry (N Lithuania) revealed the presence of one distinct normal polarity component (D =14o , I = 53o , a 95 = 4.2o , n = 28 specimens). The reversed polarity component predominates in Frasnian dolomites from Cesis quarry (Central Latvia). Only one hand specimen from this locality contained a component with the opposite direction. The mean direction from Cesis quarry (D = 198°, I = -53°, a 95 = 4.4°, n = 22 specimens) is very close to that from Skaistgirys quarry and therefore was recorded most probably during the same event of remagnetisation but at a later stage. The remagnetizations of these dolomites were caused most probably by progressive oxidation of ferric sulphides to magnetite and finaly to hematite. A comparison of the palaeomagnetic poles obtained with the stable European APWP (Apparent Polar Wander Path) indicates a Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous age for the remagnetization event. This estimation can be useful for chronostratigraphic linking of post-Palaeozoic tectonic activity and diagenetic events, so far very poorly recognized in this part of the European plate. Our data shows also that the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous part of the stable European APWP may still be inaccurate.


Today's employers highlight the workforce skills needed to thrive in this technological advancement era. The skills possessed and mastered by employees may affect their job performance level. The present research determined whether employees' employability skills correlate with task performance. It utilized a correlational design using survey questionnaires administered to 220 respondents. Descriptive data showed that fundamental, personal management and teamwork skills were highly preferred by employers and sufficiently acquired by employees. Positive attitudes and behaviors emerged as topmost preferred and acquired skill. Skill competence obtained moderately competent rating. Employers assessed task performance as satisfactory but employees rated task performance (job knowledge and skills, quality of work, quantity of work and cooperation and judgment) as very satisfactory. Inferential analysis revealed that skill acquisition and skill competence had significant positive relationship to task performance. The acquisition and competence on employability skills valued by employers require continuous enhancement to succeed in job performance.


One of the major concerns for pipeline operators is to efficiently monitor the events happening over the pipeline corridor, or right-of-way (ROW). Monitoring of the ROW is an important part of ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of oil and gas. Events occurring within this zone require rapid assessment and, if necessary, mitigation. These events could be physical intrusions such as encroachment from growing settlements, impact of vegetation, pipeline leakage or geo-environmental hazards.Analysis of satellite imagery can provide an efficient and low cost solution to access and quantify change across the ROW. Examining these events over a periodic interval requires implementation of specific methods that can support the on-going monitoring and decision making practices. In this context, satellite remote sensing images can provide a low cost and efficient solution for monitoring the physical and environmental impacts over the ROW of pipeline system.This paper reports on the development of a methodological approach for environmental change analysis using high resolution satellite images that can help decision making in pipeline systems. Analysis results and maps produced during this work provide an insight into landcover change over the study area and expected to support in on-going pipeline management practices.Two methods, Vegetation index differencing and post classification comparison have been implemented to identify change areas in the Taranaki region of the North Island of New Zealand. Vegetation index differencing with NDVI shows increase or decrease of overall vegetation within the study area. Special focus was given on large area increase and decrease with area threshold value above 0.2 hectare.Detailed analysis of change was conducted with post classification comparison method that uses land cover classification results of year 2010 and 2013. An overall change of 10% has been observed throughout the study area with large area change of approximately 5%. Results obtained from post classification comparison method were further analyzed with 6 focus areas and compared with the existing soil data and rainfall data.The methods adopted during this study are expected to provide a base for environmental change analysis in similar pipeline corridors to support decision making.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


In this article, the researcher reports the results of a case study. The focus was on the development of a "regular class" format (a standard lesson plan) for teachers of lower-level English learners whose English CALL courses incorporate ALC Press Inc.'s NetAcademy Next as the main resource. He draws on the relevant literature to outline what a class for lower-level English learners should aim to provide (including chunk-based reading, reading aloud, repetition, etc.), and introduces the "regular class" format and a handout to complement it. He then provides feedback from the learners. Ninety-four learners in the researcher's Spring, 2018 CALL classes completed an end-of-course questionnaire. Results indicate that a majority of the learners: (1) were satisfied with the course (mean=4.191 (/5 = Strongly agree), mode=4.000); (2) did not find the course too difficult (2.862 (/5 = Difficult), mode=3.000); and (3) felt more motivated to study and improve their English as a result of taking the course (mean=4.021 (/5), mode=4.000).


Contemporary Western culture is experiencing a heightened awareness of religious diversity. This article surveys a range of possible responses to such diversity, and distinguishes between responses that concern the salvation or moral transformation of persons (soteriological views) and those that concern the alethic or epistemic status of religious beliefs (doctrinal views). After providing a brief taxonomy of these positions and their possible relations to one another, the article focuses primarily on competing views about the truth and rationality of religious beliefs (e.g., pluralism, exclusivism, and skepticism). Here a heavy emphasis is placed on arguments for and against the rationality and moral propriety of retaining one's religious beliefs in the face of disagreement. The article surveys some of the more prominent arguments from the literature on this topic and closes with suggestions for further research.


Additive manufacturing (AM) has gained increased attention in the last decade as a versatile manufacturing process for customized products. AM processes can create complex free-form shapes, introducing features such as internal cavities and lattices. These complex geometries are either not feasible or very costly with traditional manufacturing processes. This creates new challenges in maintaining and communicating dimensional and geometric accuracy of parts produced. In order to manufacture a product that meets functional needs, the specification of those needs through geometry, material and tolerances is necessary. This paper surveys the current state and needs of geometry related accuracy specification mechanisms for AM, including a review of specification standards such as ASME Y14.5 and ISO 1101. Emerging AM-related tolerancing challenges are identified, and a potential plan of action is put forth for addressing those challenges.Various issues highlighted in this paper are classified as (a) AM-driven specification issues and (b) specification issues highlighted by the versatility of AM processes. AM-driven specification issues include build direction, layer thickness, support structure related specification, and scan/track direction. Specification issues highlighted by the versatility of AM processes include, region-based tolerances for complex freeform surfaces, tolerancing internal functional features, tolerancing lattice and infills. Basic methods of solving these specification issues are also highlighted.© 2015 ASME


While there is growing interest in participatory research to address issues around environmental sustainability, the focus of analysis tends to be on the results or products of the research rather than the processes involved. Addressing this gap, the authors draw on their experience of specific mapping techniques, based on different systemic concepts and theories, that have helped facilitate, explore and capture different understandings of the relationships, perspectives and boundaries within situations involving environmental sustainability. The development of visual mapping techniques are explained and practical case studies describe their application in environmental sustainability projects, from working with farmers and their networks to using visual mapping with indigenous communities and managing coastal environments. Each case study provides a 'real world' project example from researchers with extensive experience of using these techniques to research different aspects of environmental sustainability over several decades.


Anaerobic digestion is a microbially mediated process occurring in nature in the absence of oxygen and other non-carbonaceous electron acceptors. The majority of the carbon of the organic matter degraded in the process is transformed into carbon dioxide and methane. Most of the energy potential of the degraded material is conserved in the methane, thus providing a renewable energy carrier, which can be converted into heat and/or electricity, or upgraded for use as a vehicle fuel. The remaining undigested, recalcitrant lignocellulosics and mineralised nutrients constitute an excellent biofertiliser. Compared to using undigested organic material as fertiliser, the nutrient content of the digestate is more readily taken up by the plants. In addition, the lower levels of easily degradable carbon sources and nitrogen in the soil lead to reduced emission of greenhouse gases and nutrients to the air and water. The lignocellulosics of the digestate maintain the humic content of the soil, which is crucial for the long-term productivity of the soil. Anaerobic digestion of the organic waste fractions and agricultural residuals is a sustainable way to control and direct all the flows of recycled nutrients in society without risking excessive losses. Anaerobic digestion would enable the energy potential of agricultural crop residues such as sugar beet tops and ley crops to be harnessed. Sweden is so sparsely populated that full utilisation of this potential (11 TWh/yr) by conventional centralised slurry-based technology is difficult. In addition, process disturbances in the form of crust formation make operation more costly and lower methane yields may result. It appears that simple but effective high-solids reactor systems have a better chance of being economically viable on farm-scale (50-500 kW). The first part of this study shows that using straw beds improves the process performance in high-solids, anaerobic, stratified bed digesters by shortening the start-up phase of sequential fed-batch operations, and by enhancing the rate and extent of anaerobic digestion. After a non-feeding stabilisation period of the straw bed, the priming straw bed functions both as a particle filter and a microbial carrier. Methane yields from the sugar beet tops fed to pilot- and laboratory-scale equipment ranged between 0.33 and 0.39 m3/kg volatile solids at average solids retention times of 11 to 39 days. In the second part of this study, calculations on the economy of farm-scale digestion of a mixture of wheat straw and sugar beet tops were performed, assuming that the biogas was converted into heat or combined heat and electrical power, or upgraded to vehicle fuel. Among the three different reactor designs tested, the stratified bed digester was found to be the most competitive. However, the scale and utilisation rate of the equipment were too low to achieve reference case unit costs that were comparable to those of commercially available energy carriers. By increasing the scale (from 51 kW to 67 and 201 kW), replacing wheat straw by ley crops, and increasing the degree of utilisation of the equipment, the reference case unit costs were lowered to such an extent that they were on a par with most of the commercially available energy carriers (5.3 ?ct/kWhheat, 8.1 ?ct/kWhvehicle fuel). Both studies showed the great importance of full utilisation of the energy carriers produced, which might prove difficult on the farm-scale. Vehicle fuel is probably the best alternative, but the distribution system of biogas is currently restricted to certain areas. The incentive for buying biogas vehicles is reduced by the high engine conversion cost. Expanding the market by implementing some kind of ambitious, long-term subsidy programme is necessary for the wider implementation of anaerobic digestion of plant biomass in Sweden. A prime mover could be the organic farmers with no livestock, who would be able to improve their nitrogen management by removing and anaerobically treating the presently mulched or ploughed-in green manure of ley crops and other crop residuals. (Less)


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with smoking among medical students, as well as to evaluate the profile of this group.

METHODS
A total of 316 medical students (98.7% of the total) at the University of Passo Fundo, in the city of Passo Fundo, Brazil, completed a self-report questionnaire with questions on tobacco intake and on attitudes related to smoking. In accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines, the students were classified as daily smokers, occasional smokers, former smokers or nonsmokers, those in the two first categories being considered active smokers.

RESULTS
We found that 16.5% of the students were active smokers (daily smokers, 5.4%; occasional smokers, 11.1%) and that 3.5% were former smokers. The mean age was 22.2 +/- 2.4 years. Factors significantly associated with the smoking habit (p < 0.05) were male gender, paternal smoking, regular alcohol consumption and use of antidepressants or anxiolytics. For the majority (69.2%) of the smokers, the age at smoking onset was 15-19 years of age, and the main motivations to start smoking were selfinitiative and influence of friends. The conceptualization of smoking as an illness was significantly higher among the nonsmokers. In 70.6% of the smokers, tobacco intake was 1-10 cigarettes a day. Among the smokers, 92.3% agreed that smoking is harmful to health, 67.3% had tried to quit smoking, 96.0% believed themselves able to do so, and 87.2% intended to quit smoking.

CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of smoking remains significant among medical students. Therefore, it is fundamental that we develop more effective strategies for smoking prevention and cessation in order to reduce the number of smokers among future doctors.


The Taiwan Earthquake Model (TEM) published the first version of the Taiwan probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (named TEM PSHA2015) 5 years ago. For updating to the TEM PSHA2020, we considered an updated seismogenic structure database, including the structures newly identified with 3D geometry, an earthquake catalog made current to 2016, state-of-the-art seismic models, a new set of ground motion prediction equations, and site amplification factors. In addition to earthquakes taking place on each individual seismogenic structure, the updated seismic model included the possibility of an earthquake occurring on multiple structures. To include fault memory for illustrating activity on seismogenic structure sources, we incorporated the Brownian passage time model. For the crustal seismicity that cannot be attributed to any specific structure, we implemented both area source and smoothing kernel models. A new set of ground motion prediction equations is incorporated. In addition to the calculation of hazard at engineering bedrock, our assessment included site amplification factors that competent authorities of governments and private companies could use to implement hazard prevention and reduction strategies.


The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) mission, launched on 2012 June 13, is the first focusing high-energy X-ray telescope in orbit. NuSTAR operates in the band from 3 to 79 keV, extending the sensitivity of focusing far beyond the ∼10 keV high-energy cutoff achieved by all previous X-ray satellites. The inherently low background associated with concentrating the X-ray light enables NuSTAR to probe the hard X-ray sky with a more than 100-fold improvement in sensitivity over the collimated or coded mask instruments that have operated in this bandpass. Using its unprecedented combination of sensitivity and spatial and spectral resolution, NuSTAR will pursue five primary scientific objectives: (1) probe obscured active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity out to the peak epoch of galaxy assembly in the universe (at z ≲ 2) by surveying selected regions of the sky; (2) study the population of hard X-ray-emitting compact objects in the Galaxy by mapping the central regions of the Milky Way; (3) study the non-thermal radiation in young supernova remnants, both the hard X-ray continuum and the emission from the radioactive element 44Ti; (4) observe blazars contemporaneously with ground-based radio, optical, and TeV telescopes, as well as with Fermi and Swift, to constrain the structure of AGN jets; and (5) observe line and continuum emission from core-collapse supernovae in the Local Group, and from nearby Type Ia events, to constrain explosion models. During its baseline two-year mission, NuSTAR will also undertake a broad program of targeted observations. The observatory consists of two co-aligned grazing-incidence X-ray telescopes pointed at celestial targets by a three-axis stabilized spacecraft. Deployed into a 600 km, near-circular, 6° inclination orbit, the observatory has now completed commissioning, and is performing consistent with pre-launch expectations. NuSTAR is now executing its primary science mission, and with an expected orbit lifetime of 10 yr, we anticipate proposing a guest investigator program, to begin in late 2014.


We evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ecklonia cava polyphenol (Seapolynol™, a polyphenol antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent purified from E. cava) during a 12-week treatment period (400 mg orally once daily) in individuals with hypercholesterolemia and performed subgroup analysis for metabolic syndrome (MetS). As a noncomparative study, forty-six individuals (M:F=22:24, mean age=54±11 years) with fasting total cholesterol concentration >240 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration >130 mg/dL were enrolled. Hip circumference (100±7 cm vs. 98±7 cm, P<.01), total cholesterol (244±25 mg/dL vs. 225±37 mg/dL, P<.01), LDL-C (161±24 mg/dL vs. 146±34 mg/dL, P<.01), and C-reactive protein (2.51±3.55 mg/L vs. 1.37±1.32 mg/L, P<.05) were significantly decreased without significant adverse effect. A differential assessment according to the presence [MetS(+) group, n=18] and absence [MetS(-) group, n=28] of MetS showed that Hb(A1c) decreased significantly following 12-week Seapolynol treatment in the MetS(+) compared with the MetS(-) group (-0.3%±0.5% vs. 0.1%±0.3%, P<.01). In conclusion, although our results showed that Seapolynol treatment is effective and safe without significant adverse events or abnormal laboratory findings during a 12-week period in individuals with hypercholesterolemia, more research in a larger population with a longer-term follow-up period in a randomized placebo-controlled study is needed to confirm the results.


Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial disease which presents as a bilateral, sequential and painless central loss of vision. Around 90% of the cases are caused by 3 mutations: m.11778G>A (MT-ND4) (52-92% of cases), m.14484T>C (MT-ND6) (3-19% of cases) and m.3460G>A (MT-ND1) (1-33% of cases). Visual recovery is influenced by the mutation type involved. LHON can also be associated with cardiac and neurological manifestations. M.14484T>C (MT-ND6) is found only in 15% to 25% of cases worldwide but is responsible for 86% of all cases of LHON in French Canadian descendants. The goal of this retrospective study is to describe clinical ophthalmic and systemic manifestations, as well as the visual prognosis of LHON patients from Eastern Canada. Patient's files were reviewed in two Montreal hospitals. We have found 23 patient's files with a positive mutation for LHON. 87.0% had m.14484T>C (MT-ND6) and 13.0% had m.11778G>A (MT-ND4). No case of m.3460G>A (MT-ND1) was found in our patients. Visual recovery occurred in 23.7% of m.14484T>C (MT-ND6) and in 33.3% of m.11778G>A (MT-ND4). Final visual acuity varied from 20/20 to no light perception. Both cardiac and neurologic abnormalities were found. Our study confirms that m.14484T>C (MT-ND6) is the most prevalent in the province of Quebec, mostly inhabited by French Canadians. It is important to investigate these patients for cardiac and neurologic diseases, as both has been found in our patients.


Abstract. In this paper, we use the in-house Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) flow code AMAZON-SC as a numerical wave tank (NWT) to study wave loading on a wave energy converter (WEC) device in heave motion. This is a surface-capturing method for two fluid flows that treats the free surface as contact surface in the density field that is captured automatically without special provision. A time-accurate artificial compressibility method and high resolution Godunov-type scheme are employed in both fluid regions (air/water). The Cartesian cut cell method can provide a boundary-fitted mesh for a complex geometry with no requirement to re-mesh globally or even locally for moving geometry, requiring only changes to cut cell data at the body contour. Extreme wave boundary conditions are prescribed in an empty NWT and compared with physical experiments prior to calculations of extreme waves acting on a floating Bobber-type device. The validation work also includes the wave force on a fixed cylinder compared with theoretical and experimental data under regular waves. Results include free surface elevations, vertical displacement of the float, induced vertical velocity and heave force for a typical Bobber geometry with a hemispherical base under extreme wave conditions.


Background Treatment based on ultrasound (US) and colour Doppler (CD) findings in midportion Achilles tendinosis has shown promising results. In a randomised study on a small patient material, similar short-term clinical results were demonstrated with surgery outside the tendon and sclerosing polidocanol injections, but surgical treatment led to a faster return to activity. Objective To evaluate the clinical results of US and CD-guided mini-surgery (scraping) outside the ventral tendon in a larger patient material and, in a randomised study, compare two different techniques for surgical scraping. Material and methods 103 patients (66 men, 37 women), mean age 43 years (range 24–77), with midportion tendinosis in 125 Achilles tendons were included. Patients from a large group (88 tendons), and a randomised study (37 tendons), were in local anaesthesia treated with a US and CD-guided new surgical approach outside the ventral tendon. All patients in the large group, and one arm of the randomised study, were treated open with a scalpel, while the other arm of the randomised study were treated percutaneously. Pain during Achilles tendon loading activity (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)), and satisfaction with treatment, were evaluated. Results Before surgery, the mean VAS was 73. After surgery (follow-up mean 18 months, range 6–33), the mean VAS was 3 in 111 tendons (89%) from satisfied patients back in full Achilles tendon loading activity. In the randomised study, there were no significant differences in the results between open treatment with a scalpel and percutaneous treatment with a needle. Conclusions US and CD-guided scraping show good short-term results in midportion Achilles tendinosis.


In the paper, the total contents of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Cr in sediment samples which were systematically collected from Yin-dong Liang lead-zinc mine area located at Feng country in Shaanxi province were determined by air-acetylene flame atomic spectrophotometer and the morphology of heavy metal in sediment was further investigated. Based on system testing, pollution load index was applied to assess the pollution situation of sediment. The results show that the pollution load index of mine area was up to 14.22, indicating the pollution situation is severe. Moreover, the most heavy metals are in residual state in comparison with the less water soluble, leading to relative low bioavailability and ecological risk. However, the higher proportion of reducible and oxidizable could be released to the environment under appropriate conditions, resulting in severe potential ecological risk.


AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF REGINA HELEN MOSSOTTI, for the Master of Science degree in ZOOLOGY, presented 23 October 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: FEMALE REACTION TO MALE URINE SCENTS AS POTENTIAL INDICATOR OF MATE CHOICE IN CAPTIVE CHEETAHS (ACINONYX JUBATUS) MAJOR PROFESSOR: GEORGE A. FELDHAMER Genetic variation in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) has become dangerously low because of dramatic population decline and fragmentation. Zoos throughout the world manage captive cheetahs with breeding programs to maximize genetic heterozygosity. Unfortunately, the zoo community has not accomplished consistent breeding success with cheetahs, possibly because of a general lack of information on sociosexual behavior. Currently, individual cheetahs are assigned mates based primarily on genetic relatedness; however, evidence from many species suggests that allowing animals to choose mates increases breeding success. When animals, primarily females, are allowed to choose mates they will often pick the best genetic match. I tested whether female cheetahs can determine their genetic relatedness to males by investigating their urine scents. Voided male urine was collected following scent marking. The female was offered scents from three different males: one from an unrelated male, a "good" mate choice (A), another from a male that was equivalent to a second cousin, an "average" mate choice (B), and one from a male that was closely related, equivalent to a brother/father, a "poor" mate choice (C). Every female was also offered "blank" gauze as a control (D). The scents were offered in a pair-wise forced choice paradigm for a total of six possible combinations. All behaviors displayed toward each scent (and their duration) were recorded. The estrous cycling of each female was monitored through fecal hormone evaluation for approximately six weeks, including the weeks during scent trials. In every pairing except C vs. D, the females spent more time overall with the better mate choice in the pair; with three of the comparisons being significantly different (A>C, t=2.38, df=11, P=0.039; A>D, t=1.88, df=11, P= 0.087 and B>D, t=2.62, df=8, P=0.045). Proximity was the most frequently observed behavior and females spent more time in proximity to the most distantly related male scent in all pairings. They spent significantly more time in proximity with A in AC pairing (t=2.25, df=10, P=0.049) and with B in the BC and BD pairings (t=6.37, df=8, P=0.0002; t=2.46, df=6, P=0.049; respectively). Sniffing was the next most frequently observed behavior, and in all pairings (except CD) females spent more time sniffing the most distantly related male's scent; but was only significantly different for A in the AD pairing (t=2.31, df=7, P=0.055). Lag time of estradiol in fecal samples varies between individuals; therefore, the affect of daily estradiol concentrations on scent choices could not be determined. This is the first mate choice study using urine with a mammalian carnivore.


[1] A new model of the subducted Juan de Fuca plate beneath western North America allows first-order correlations between the occurrence of Wadati-Benioff zone earthquakes and slab geometry, temperature, and hydration state. The geo-referenced 3D model, constructed from weighted control points, integrates depth information from earthquake locations and regional seismic velocity studies. We use the model to separate earthquakes that occur in the Cascadia forearc from those that occur within the underlying Juan de Fuca plate and thereby reveal previously obscured details regarding the spatial distribution of earthquakes. Seismicity within the slab is most prevalent where the slab is warped beneath northwestern California and western Washington suggesting that slab flexure, in addition to expected metamorphic dehydration processes, promotes earthquake occurrence within the subducted oceanic plate. Earthquake patterns beneath western Vancouver Island are consistent with slab dehydration processes. Conversely, the lack of slab earthquakes beneath western Oregon is consistent with an anhydrous slab. Double-differenced relocated seismicity resolves a double seismic zone within the slab beneath northwestern California that strongly constrains the location of the plate interface and delineates a cluster of seismicity 10 km above the surface that includes the 1992 M7.1 Mendocino earthquake. We infer that this earthquake ruptured a surface within the Cascadia accretionary margin above the Juan de Fuca plate. We further speculate that this earthquake is associated with a detached fragment of former Farallon plate. Other subsurface tectonic elements within the forearc may have the potential to generate similar damaging earthquakes.


Increasing globalization leads to tougher competition than ever. Organizations previously sheltered in specialized niche markets, today face newfound competition from international actors. For many MNCs the optimal response to an increasing global competition is the challenging task of trying to combine some of the benefits of global integration with local responsiveness. Changing the product strategy to modular design can be one important step of this restructuring. Modular design is an approach that allows for specialization, local differentiation and often substantial cost reductions. However, several studies show that transferring capabilities within a firm is far from easy; practice implementation does not always work out as intended. This paper investigates and explains factors influencing implementation of modular design in multinational firms. Our study draws from the experiences of EFD Induction, a leading multinational within induction heating solutions. We examine a proposed conceptual framework in the light of the organization's own experiences from implementation of modular design in their Norwegian subsidiary. Based on our findings, we suggest success actions for managers facing an impending implementation of modular design. We develop our conceptual framework from three complementary theoretical perspectives on organizational behavior respectively; change management theory, absorptive capacity theory and institutional theory. Change management addresses how to make change happen, thus it undertakes the internal dynamics within the organization. Absorptive capacity theory focuses on the internal properties of the organization; the organization's ability to absorb, transform and exploit new knowledge. Lastly, institutional theory explores the organization's interaction with the external environment. By covering the external environment, the internal dynamics and the internal properties of the organization, we argue that this framework help us answer the proposed research questions from a holistic point of view. Our findings are generally supportive of change management's practical guidance to the implementation process. Drawing from change management, our study indicates that high urgency levels are often required to drive people out of their old patterns of doing product development. Furthermore, the implementation process requires a powerful guiding coalition coordinating the efforts and motivating for change. The case study illustrates the importance of anchoring change in the organizational culture. Similarly, absorptive capacity theory was found to provide us with central insight to the implementation process. Here, it was experienced that a lack of diversity in the employees' background limited the ways new knowledge was processed and utilized. Further, the study raises strong arguments for facilitating for organizational learning activities. Our case study does not provide much support for the relevance of institutional theory in the implementation of modular design. It appears that the case study companies had limited noteworthy interaction with their external environment. After realizing the theories' unique and complementary explanation power to the proposed research question, we argue that practice implementation should be planned for, and later discussed in the light of a multidisciplinary approach to literature. From such an approach we propose a stage-model for strategic actions recommended to managers facing implementation of modular design.


Background In Limburg (province in the South East of The Netherlands), in May 2015 a new ACP pathway will be implemented into four primary care facilities and four ambulatory care wards of Orbis Medical Centre. Its aim is the early identification of (oncological and chronically ill) patients who will probably die within one year, discuss patients in a multidisciplinary setting, and to provide them with a pro-active care plan. This should result into higher experienced quality of care, of death and dying and into less unnecessary health care usage. Aim To gain insight into both the effects and the (implementation) process, by measuring several indicators: place of preferred death, quality of death and dying, experiences with care, burden of care as experienced by spouses, profiles of health care consumption (admissions, crisis situations, replacements). Additionally, we will survey facilitators and barriers to the implementation. Methods The pathway will continuously be evaluated during the next 2,5 years. Some indicators will be measured in both the intervention group and a control-group; other are only measured cross-sectionally. Clinical assessment of patients will be done during the intake. We will conduct semi-structured interviews with health care professionals and spouses. We will use patient data from physician and hospital information systems to reconstruct health care usage. Results We expect to include 250 patients yearly. Preliminary results can be presented in Sep 2015. Discussion We would like to discuss the study design, indicators, questionnaires, and data collection methods. Second, we would like to reflect on the pathway (identification, assessment, follow-up, multidisciplinary interaction).


Titles in the Core Text series take the reader straight to the heart of the subject, providing focused, concise, and reliable guides for students at all levels. Company Law provides an account of the key principles of this area of law. It aims to demystify this complex subject. Chapter introductions provide summaries of various aspects of company law and further reading provide the tools for further research and study. This volume includes coverage of new case law such as Rossendale BC v Hurstwood Properties (A) Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 364; BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA [2019] EWCA Civ 112; Global Corporate Ltd v Hale [2018] EWCA Civ 2618; Parr v Keystone Healthcare Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 1246; Sevilleja Garcia v Marex Financial Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1468; and Re Sprintroom Ltd; Prescott v Potamianos [2019] EWCA Civ 932. On corporate governance the latest developments surrounding the UK Corporate Governance Code and Stewardship Developments 2020 together with Wates Corporate Governance Principles for Large Private Companies are discussed.


A technique to setup a simply supported rectangular plane panel for laboratory vibroacoustic tests is described and validated. For a given panel fixed to thin vertical supports, a dimensionless parameter is proposed to size these supports following a desired frequency precision compared to theoretical eigenfrequencies of a panel with such boundary conditions. A numerical study confirms the potential of this design parameter. Detailed instructions for assembling a panel with adequate thin vertical supports on a rigid frame are then given. Finally, three laboratory cases are described which illustrate possible experimental vibroacoustic applications using a panel assembled following previous guidelines. The design parameter viability is experimentally confirmed, and all obtained results depicted good agreement with analytical solutions and numerical predictions.


This study was conducted at the Sheikh Mohamed location which is far about (25 km) west north Mosul city during 2009-2010, 2010-2011 seasons. Three rapeseed genotypes (Tantal, Kroko and Rapol), were tested under three plant density (29629, 44444 and 88888 plants. hectar) to determine the effect of plant density on the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seed yield, yield components and seed quality. The results showed that plant density of 29629 plants. hectar gave the highest mean for characters stem diameter, number of primary branches, number of silique per plant, leaf area, number of seed per silique, weight of thousand seed, and oil, protein percentage in 2009-2010, 2010-2011 seasons, While the plant density of 88888 plants. hectar gave a high mean for plant height in both growing seasons. The genotypes differed significantly in all the related characteristics, the Kroko genotype come over the other genotypes in plant height, stem diameter, number of branches/plant, leaf area, number of silique /plant, number of seed/ silique, 1000 seeds weight (g.) seed yield (ton.ha), oil, protein percentage of seeds and oil, protein yield (ton.ha)in both growing seasons. The interaction between plant density and genotypes was significant in plant height in 2009-2010 season only, the Kroko genotype with plant density at 88888 plants.hectar gave highest mean for plant height. Received: 25/3/2012 ; Accepted: 23/1/2013


In this review, genetic changes known to occur in human and experimental animal hepatocarcinogenesis are evaluated comparatively, with the aim of identifying genes that could potentially be targets of new preventive and therapeutic strategies, albeit the fact that although a step-by-step analysis of the premalignant stages has been largely accomplished in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis, this goal is still elusive in the case of humans. Overexpression of several of the genes implicated in the MAPK signaling cascade and cell cycle control appears to be most likely responsible for initiated cells acquiring a proliferating phenotype that facilitates the accumulation of structural changes in additional genes, resulting in the generation of autonomously growing preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Several gene abnormalities seen in precancerous lesions of rodents also occur in human hepatocellular carcinomas, suggesting that at least some of them could be present also in human precancerous lesions. Furthermore, there are reports that epigenetic events, such as abnormal DNA methylation, may be critical in hepatocarcinogenesis. DNA hypomethylation is an early event, both in human and experimental hepatocarcinogenesis, and its role in the activation of various genes, has been postulated. In recent years, linkage analysis studies have led to the identification of susceptibility/resistance loci that influence the progression stage of hepatocarcinogenesis in mice and rats. The relevance of these findings, though, will depend on the identification of the genes, and on whether in humans there are genes ortholog with rodent's susceptibility/resistance genes. It is proposed that rodent hepatocarcinogenesis represents a promising model for the identification of genes implicated in the early stages of the process, and that many of these genes may represent key targets for the application of gene therapy in the prevention and treatment of liver cancer.


The association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposits can now be easily identified by MSUS, which is a noninvasive technique that can be applied to patients with painful joints and enthesis that are unexplained by rheumatoid activity. In this paper, we report an Egyptian case of a 51-year-old man who had rheumatoid arthritis since 7 years and developed bilateral knee and heel pain of 1.5 months' duration with gradual onset and progressive course. Radiography revealed features of RA in both hands, as well as features of severe osteoarthritis in both knees with no signs of chondrocalcinosis. Ultrasonography of the joints, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia detected knee, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia calcifications, which are characteristic of CPPD, and supraspinatus calcification, which is characteristic of hydroxyapatite (HA) deposition. Further investigations revealed no evidence of metabolic disorders. CPPD and HA crystals were identified in his synovial fluid. Subclinical affection with CPPD and HA crystals in RA can be easily detected by ultrasonography, which allows early management to prevent future attacks in RA patients that could lead to exacerbation of joint symptoms that may be missed as rheumatoid disease activity. Diet control and colchicine treatment may be more effective if started early before exacerbation.


This guide is designed to introduce students and faculty to the Millstein Library's Digital Media Lab and offer suggestions on how they can integrate digital media into their assignments.


This study is a semantic analysis of metonymic and metaphoric expressions involving body-part terms for the face in Chinese. These expressions are discussed regarding four perceived roles of face, namely, as highlight of appearance and look, as indicator of emotion and character, as focus of interaction and relationship, and as locus of dignity and prestige. It is argued that the figurative extensions are based on some biological facts about our face: it is the most distinctive part on the interactive side of our body capable of revealing our inner states. Referring to English the study shows that the terms for the face in both languages have developed figurative meanings along similar routes with similar stops. It also shows that the concepts of ?face and facework?, admittedly ubiquitous in all cultures, are manifested more richly in Chinese than in English ? a reflection of cultural differences in values attached to those concepts. Finally, a hypothetical ?Triangle Model? is proposed to account for the relationship between language, culture, body, and cognition.


This exploratory paper begins with an overview of a multidisciplinary problem of behavior modeling and correlation of different behaviors. It looks at many possible applications of such technology and proposes some novel directions for future research. From the security point of view the paper proposes and explores some novel behavioral biometrics and research paths as well as some universal descriptors of behavior in general. It concludes with an analysis of how behavior can be influenced by the environment in particular location of the individual engaging in the behavior.


We modified the spectral renormalization method as the pseudospectral renormalization method in order to find the localized solutions. The pseudospectral renormalization method can be applied to a large class of problems including different homogeneities. Using this computational method, we demonstrate the existence of two different solitons in optical media described by the self-focusing cubic and the self-defocusing quintic nonlinear Schrodinger equation with quasicrystal lattice. It is shown that there are two different lattice solitons corresponding to the first and the second renormalization factors for the self-focusing cubic and the self-defocusing quintic model. However, the self-focusing quintic nonlinearity without optical lattice does not support two different solitons. We showed that the lattice solitons corresponding to the first and the second renormalization factors have the same powers and amplitudes. We also demonstrate that quintic nonlinearity supports bistable solitons by adding the optical lattice such as a quasicrystal lattice. The linear and nonlinear stabilities of these solitons are investigated using direct simulation of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation with the cubic-quintic nonlinearity and its linearized equation.


In 2003 Griffith University entered into a partnership with HarvestRoad to co-develop the Hive digital repository system. Issues relating to the base architecture (structure of collection bureaus, categories and sub-categories), security, permissions, integration with the LMS, granularity of objects to be managed, content reusability, base metadata standard, search facility, workflows, version control, content rendering and format, and timed release and content expiry were worked through. Policies dealing with intellectual property ownership, copyright management, and process ownership were developed. A number of start-up bureaus were established. This paper reports on progress, future applications, and lessons learned at Griffith.


With piezoelectric acceleration sensor, charge voltage filter amplifier, data acquisition card, PC and vibration experiment table for hardware development platform, and LABVIEW for software development platform, virtual instrument technology was applied to the design of mechanical vibration test system. This test system mainly consists of data acquisition, time domain analysis, amplitude domain analysis, frequency domain analysis, time-frequency analysis module. Experimental results indicate: The system not only can perform real-time data acquisition of multiple channels signal, waveform display, data storage, signal analysis, playback measurement and output printing etc, but also has good expansibility, high speed, high accuracy and friendly interface. It is suitable for engineering personnel and laboratory use.


This paper presents the application of a primal decomposition algorithm for the problem of supply chain investment planning under uncertainty applied to the petroleum products supply chain. The uncertainty considered is related with the unknown demand levels for oil products. For this purpose, a model was developed based on two-stage stochastic programming. It is proposed two different solution methodologies, one based on the classical cutting plane approach presented by Van Slyke and Wets (1969), and other, based on a multi cut extension of it, firstly introduced by Birge and Louveaux (1988). The methods were evaluated on a real sized case study. Preliminary numerical results obtained from computational experiments are encouraging.


Statement of Problem: Position and orientation of fiber may lead to increase load bearing capacity and prevent undesirable fractures in cuspal coverage composite restorations. Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the effect of fiber position and orientation on fracture resistance and failure mode of composite cusp capping restorations. Materials and method: In this experimental study, MOD cavities with 2.5mm cuspal reduction were prepared in 50 human maxillary premolars. The teeth were divided into five groups (n=10) and all teeth were restored with packable composite resin (P60). In the first group no fibers were applied. In the second group one strip of fiber was inserted into resin composite in buccal to palatal direction. In the third group two strips of fiber were inserted in buccal to palatal and mesial to distal direction by crossing in central part of cavity. In the forth group, one strip was directed from mesiobuccal to distopalatal and the other from distobuccal to mesiopalatal line angle. In the fifth group, two strips of fiber were inserted in buccal to palatal direction with 1.5 mm distance. The teeth were stored in water for 7 days in room temperature and then thermocycled 500 times between 6±2 and 60±2 centigrade degrees. The specimens were subjected to compressive loading perpendicular to the occlusal surface. The necessary fracture loads were recorded in (KN) and the results were statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney and ANOVA tests. Mode of fracture was analyzed by using Fisher test. Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant increase of fracture load from control to the other four groups (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences between second and third groups (p=0.034) as well as second and fifth groups (p=0.041). No significant differences were found between other pairs of groups. Also significant differences were observed in failure mode between composite restorations with and without fiber, except for second group (p<0.005). Conclusion: Fiber reinforced composites improve fracture resistance and failure mode of restorations with cusp capping. With increase use of fiber strips in special directions, fracture resistance will be rised. Key words: Fracture resistance- Failure mode- Cusp capping- Fiber- composite


Machine and deep learning-based algorithms are the emerging approaches in addressing prediction problems in time series. These techniques have been shown to produce more accurate results than conventional regression-based modeling. It has been reported that artificial Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) with memory, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), are superior compared to Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) with a large margin. The LSTM-based models incorporate additional "gates" for the purpose of memorizing longer sequences of input data. The major question is that whether the gates incorporated in the LSTM architecture already offers a good prediction and whether additional training of data would be necessary to further improve the prediction.
Bidirectional LSTMs (BiLSTMs) enable additional training by traversing the input data twice (i.e., 1) left-to-right, and 2) right-to-left). The research question of interest is then whether BiLSTM, with additional training capability, outperforms regular unidirectional LSTM. This paper reports a behavioral analysis and comparison of BiLSTM and LSTM models. The objective is to explore to what extend additional layers of training of data would be beneficial to tune the involved parameters. The results show that additional training of data and thus BiLSTM-based modeling offers better predictions than regular LSTM-based models. More specifically, it was observed that BiLSTM models provide better predictions compared to ARIMA and LSTM models. It was also observed that BiLSTM models reach the equilibrium much slower than LSTM-based models.


Antibodies (Ab) reacting with myocardial fibre sarcolemma (SL) and interstitial connective tissue (ICT) were determined by means of indirect immunofluorescence technique. The Ab level was found to be dependent on the ABO. Subjects having O and A blood groups are most potent ICT Ab producers, while those with B group, the weakest. The inflammatory process activity exerts varying effects on the level of ICT and SL antibodies depending on the ABO. The ICT Ab level reduction and SL Ab level elevation in maximal inflammation activity were revealed only in O and A blood groups, but not in B-group patients. The differences are discussed. The use of ICT Ab level determination is proposed to be an indicator of the utilization system of damaged connective tissue and aging erythrocytes according to the age and ABO. The presence of SL Ab is believed to be a risk factor of cardiac disease only in O and A blood group patients.


This study provides a new insight into Turkish Salix L. systematics, using a molecular phylogeny and numerical morphometric analysis approach. Despite its economic importance for bioenergy, there is to date no record of any extensive study on this Turkish willow species. Twenty-four Salix species and one hybrid were subjected to molecular and morphometric evaluation, in which one gene region of the external transcribed spacer ( ETS ) of the 18S-26S nuclear ribosomal DNA and 11 morphological characters were analyzed using a Bayesian Anal- ysis of Beast program and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) in R. The results indicate that Salix species in Turkey could be accurately classified at the subgenera level, considering the selected gene region and morphological traits (subgenus Salix and Vetrix ). Life form, leaf shape ( Dim 1 ) and bud scale ( Dim 3 ) were highly discriminative at the subgenera level. The molecular and morphological data confirmed that the taxonomic position of Salix amplexicaulis needs to be changed as subgenus Salix . Additionally, the members of subgenus Salix , S. acmophylla and S. pentandroides were all clustered distantly from other species of the subgenus


We investigate theoretically the geometric structure and vibrational properties of complexes of polyenes with aluminum atoms that constitute model systems for the species formed at the interface between aluminum and polyacetylene. The calculations are performed with two quantum-mechanical techniques:  ab initio Hartree−Fock and density functional theory in the local spin density approximation. These methods are first applied to a polyene molecule, all-trans octatetraene, and the calculated vibrational spectra are compared to existing experimental and theoretical data. The molecule is then made to interact with two aluminum atoms in various configurations. Since the metal atoms form covalent bonds with carbon atoms in the central part of octatetraene, strong geometric modifications occur along the conjugated system, which in turn deeply affect the vibrational spectra. These results allow us to derive the expected infrared signature of the chemical species present at the interface.


textabstractUntil comparatively recently it was considered to be self-evident that wound healing
and infection were both parts of the same process. The words 'laudable pus' speak
for themselves.
De Chauliac and Pare were amongst the first generation of surgeons who were
dissatisfied with this concept, and showed that healing could be achieved without infection
if better treatment was applied to the wound. Semmf'lweis and Lister clearly
showed that the two processes were distinct, and thus laid the basis for modern
surgery.
Nowadays the roles are reversed, and there appears to be a real danger of wound
healing without infection being taken for granted. Many are unaware that most
complications can be prevented, because they do not have satisfactory knowledge of
the healing process. A surgeon-to-be must therefore become conversant with the
basic principles of this process. He must accurately assess the damage caused by the
wound and the body's capacity for repairing this damage. He must learn to allow
nature to take its course, and only to interfere when nature threatens to 'go astray'.
But, first of all, he must begin at the beginning and realize that three important
phases in the healing process can be differentiated: a reaction phase, a regeneration
phase, and a remodelling phase.


This paper is focused on determining extrusion process conditions for the first billet and, particularly, on selecting an adequate billet temperature and extrusion speed. It is important to predict these values before adjusting the die to avoid lengthy and unproductive preparation times, and to make die adjustment easier during the tests. With that in mind, this study employs two models to determine the first billet temperature (TFB) and the extrusion speed (SE) parameters: one that applies regression techniques and another that uses neural networks. The aim of this paper is to present the results obtained by comparing the performance of the two models to determine which one offers the best results. We also analyze whether changing the number of patterns for construction of the models will improve results. The models are based on extrusion process parameters taken from real industry contexts. The results indicate that the variables chosen as predictor variables for the extrusion speed output must be refined.


Envenomation by arachnids causes significant medical illness worldwide. Scorpion sting is the most important arachnid envenomation causing adult morbidity and pediatric mortality. Important groups of spiders include the widow spiders (Latrodectus spp.), the recluse spiders (Loxosceles spp.), and two spiders confined to single countries: the Australian funnel web spider (Atrax and Hadronyche spp.) and the armed spider (Phoneutria spp.) from Brazil. There are four widow spider antivenoms available, including the Australian redback spider antivenom and the American black widow antivenom. Despite good in vitro animal work demonstrating effective neutralization with these antivenoms, and cross-reactivity between many species, there continues to be a reluctance to use them in some countries. They are both associated with a relatively low rate of allergic reactions. Redback antivenom is routinely used by the intramuscular route, which may not be as effective as intravenous use based on clinical experience and animal studies. Antivenoms are available for Loxosceles spp., but there is little evidence to support their effectiveness, particularly against local effects. The Australian funnel web spider causes severe neurotoxic envenomation, and antivenom appears to be effective in reported cases. An antivenom exists for the Brazilian armed spider, but is used in only a minority of cases. Many scorpion antivenoms exist worldwide, but there remains significant controversy regarding their efficacy. Animal and human venom level studies demonstrate neutralization of circulating venom in systemic envenomation. Clinical experience in countries where antivenom has been introduced suggests it has reduced pediatric mortality. However, three controlled trials demonstrated that antivenom was not effective, but these included few severe cases. Until controlled trials of antivenom in systemically envenomated patients are undertaken, antivenom use appears justified in severe envenomation. Although envenomation from arthropods is common, no antivenoms exist for these, excepting Lonomia caterpillars in South America, and Ixodes paralysis ticks in Australia.


Real-time monitoring of energy measurement is a crucial and challenging field of application research. Development of practical real-time monitoring system of energy measurement has important practical significance. Measurement of a plant's energy requirements are analyzed, The real-time monitoring of energy measurement are based on B / S structure design , and the actual problems are analyzed and discussed in the real-time monitoring system. The system's design and implementation method are analyzed in the practical application, to meet the requirements of real-time system. the real-time data collection, data analysis, data flow management are involved.


Objective In 2002, many haemodialysis patients were switched from subcutaneous (s.c.) to intravenous (i.v.) administration of epoetin-α following reports of antibody formation and development of pure red-cell aplasia in patients treated via the s.c. route. We evaluated the possible effect of this change in the route of administration on haemoglobin (Hb) levels and epoetin-α requirements. Material and methods This retrospective survey involved 223 haemodialysis patients from 25 Swedish centres. Variables were recorded before and after a mean period of 213 days (range 89–297 days) after the change in the route of administration. Results The mean epoetin-α do had to be increased from 159±104 to 185±122 U/kg/week (p<0.0001) to maintain a constant Hb level (121±12 vs 120±11 g/l). Plasma ferritin, albumin, C-reactive protein, iron, iron transferrin saturation and body mass index remained constant. The relative increase in epoetin-α dose was negatively correlated with the s.c. dose prior to the switch (R=–0.3; p<0.0001), with the most pronounced dose increases occurring in patients who received a low s.c. dose. Conclusions A switch from s.c. to i.v. administration of epoetin-α in haemodialysis patients was accompanied by an increase in the mean dose requirement of 15%. This increase may be less pronounced in patients receiving high s.c. doses prior to the switch.


The effect of isoproterenol (IPR) on bone-marrow cAMP content was investigated in vivo and in vitro. In unirradiated CFW mice, the bone-marrow cAMP content was found to be elevated by the administration of noradrenaline, adrenaline and isoproterenol. After IPR administration, the increase in cAMP was biphasic with maxima at 1 and 15 min. An increase in cAMP content was also noted in bone-marrow of sublethally-irradiated mice, but no further increase was observed 15 min after the administration of IPR. Elevation of cAMP by either IPR or radiation was prevented by pretreatment with the beta-adrenergic blocking agent--propranolol. IPR was also effective in increasing the cAMP content when added to suspension of bone-marrow cells. This effect was abolished by propranolol. IPR did not increase cAMP levels in bone-marrow cells isolated from irradiated animals. The results suggest that the differentiated bone-marrow cells have beta-adrenergic receptors.


Due to supply voltage reduction and process variations effects, the error free margin for dynamic voltage scaling has been drastically reduced. Thus, supply-Voltage Over Scaling (VOS) has emerged as an efficient means to achieve ultra-low energy efficient systems, that tradeoff energy efficiency and reliability. Recently, N-Modular Redundancy (NRM) has been used as an effective fault-tolerant design method in which N copies of an unreliable block are employed and a voting strategy such as majority, median or mean is deployed to select an output. This paper presents a novel NMR voting algorithm based on the maximum a posteriori (MAP) and the statistics of output bit-failure rate. The design of Distributed Arithmetic (DA) filters is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique and show the trade-offs between the robustness of the system and the power savings. Simulation results show significant enhancement in terms of output signal to noise (error) ratio and reliability as compared to other NMR fault tolerant techniques. A case study of a low-pass DA filter employed in a simple communication system shows that up to 12% power savings could be achieved when compared to the conventional NMR while satisfying the system bit-error performance.


This report serves as one of the two background documents for the HvA/UvA research proposal concerning cultural interventions in the process of urban regeneration in Krachtwijken in Amsterdam. The report at hand, based on a review of the international literature on art and regeneration, and on international and Dutch practices, shows why the proposed research will be both valuable to the practice of Amsterdam and to international research. The report starts with a description of the role of the arts in urban regeneration (§2) and the objective of regeneration processes: 'feeling at home' (§3). Next, paragraph 4 further explores the role of the arts in urban regeneration by focussing on the forms and impacts of and critique on different cultural interventions. Finally, §5 summarises the preconditions for effective cultural interventions. This general overview of the functions of cultural interventions in the urban context provides the background against which our research agenda is presented.